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This  book  was  presented  by 

Robert  S.   Curtis 


W/lWiwwK 


S00536280   Q 


This  book  is  due  on  the  date  indicated 
below  and  is  subject  to  an  overdue  fine 
as  posted  at  the  Circulation  Desk. 


CATTLE. 

BT 

W.  YOUATT. 

AND 

W.    0.    L.    MARTIN, 

BEING    A   TREATISE    ON    THBIR 

BREEDS,  MANAGEMENT,  AND  DISEASES, 

COMPRISINO   A 

FULL  HISTORY  OF  THE  VARIOUS  RACES; 

rElIR  ORIGIN,  BREEDING,  AND  MERITS;    THEIR  CAPACITY  FOR  BEEF  AND 
MILK  ;    THE  NATURE  AND  TREATMENT  OF  THEIR  DISEASES  ; 

THE  WHOLE  FORMING  A  COMPLETE  GUIDE 

FOR    THE 

FARMER,  THE  AMATEUR,  AND  VETERINARY  SURGEON, 

WITH  100  ILLUSTRATIONS 

EDITED  BY  A.  STEVENS. 

^E\Y  YORK: 
C.  M.  SAXTON,  BARKER  &  CO,  25  PARK  ROW. 

SAN   FRANCISCO  :   H.  H.  BANCROFT  &  CO. 
1860. 


Eatered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 
C.  M.  SAXTON, 
the  ChrVs  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Scuth^rn  District  c>f  ?;  ?  ;v.  Yorli 


PREFACE  TO  THE  AMERICAN  EDITION, 


ii.  j>rtA^J-kii!ng  an  edition  of  Youatt  to  the  American  public,  the 
Amencan  editor  may  justly  say,  that,  of  all  the  treatises  on  cattle, 
none  is  so  valuable  as  his.  Mr.  Youatt  was  a  man  of  rare  ability ; 
a  scholar,  distinguished  for  the  extent,  variety,  and  elegance  of  his 
attainments  ;  for  his  power  of  research,  historical,  and  scientific ;  for 
the  brilliancy  of  his  style ;  and  as  a  veterinary  surgeon  of  profound 
knowledge,  in  both  the  science  and  practice  of  his  art,  and  of  devotion 
to  its  pursuit.  Scarcely  any  man  of  all  the  world  was  so  happily 
fitted  as  he,  to  produce  a  great  historical  and  medical  work  on 
cattle. 

And  while  he  was  so  peculiarly  qualified  to  write  such  a  work, 
the  circumstances  that  originated  it  were  eminently  the  ones  to 
insure  him  success  in  the  undertaking.  An  association  existed  in 
England,  under  the  name  of  The  Society  for  the  diffusion  of 
USEFUL  Knowledge.  Men  of  eminence  in  every  variety  of  learning 
were  its  members  ;  the  publication  of  practical  treatises  in  all  depart- 
ments of  useful  knowledge,  its  object.  Appreciating  the  ability  of 
Mr.  Youatt  to  give  the  world  a  valuable  work  on  the  history,  breeds, 
management,  and  diseases  of  cattle,  this  Society  enlisted  him  in  its 
production. 

In  preparing  this  treatise  for  publication,  the  Arnerican  editor  has 
abridged  it  of  the  history  of  local  and  inferior  breeds  of  cattle  in 
England,  in  which  the  American  farmer  and  amateur  has  no  interest. 
There  is  not  a  page  in  the  whole,  but  has  been  carefully  considered, 
and,  where  it  required,  its  matter  advanced  to  the  present  state  of 


PREFACE. 


knowledge  on  the  subject.  In  doing  this,  many  works  on  tho 
subject,  published  since  Mr.  Youatt's,  have  been  examined.  The 
chief  of  these  is.  The  Ox,  by  Mr.  W.  C.  L.  Martin,  one  of  the 
ofl&cers  of  the  London  Zoological  Society. 

The  editor  has  consulted  three  recent  German  treatises  on  the 
diseases  of  cattle.  The  most  valuable  of  these  is  by  Gunther,  who 
has  applied  homoeopathy  to  animals.  In  addition  to  the  ordinary 
modes  of  practice,  the  editor  has  given  the  treatment  of  Gunther. 
It  is  within  his  knowledge,  that  the  prescriptions  of  homoeopathy 
have  been  eminently  successful  in  the  diseases  of  both  horses  and 
cattle.  This  method  of  managing  theii  diseases  will  be  valuable  to 
those  who  adopt  tlie  school  of  Hahnemann,  while  it  detracts  nothing 
from  the  work  as  a  manual  of  ordinary  veterinary  practice. 

Thousands  of  copies  of  Youatt  and  Martin  are  annually  sold  in 
England,  and,  there,  opinion  has  estabhshed  them  as  standards  in  their 
branch  of  knowledge.  This  American  edition  commends  itself  by 
its  small  price,  and  its  intrinsic  value,  and  should  sell  in  thousands. 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  American  publisher,  for  giving  to  the 
public  this  edition,  beautiful  alike  for  its  embellishment  and  iU 
typography. 


CONTENTS. 


Preiace         ..........      3 

Chapteu  I.  — The  NAXiniAL  History  of  the  Ox. — His  Zoological  character — 
*  domesticated  before  the  Flood        .  .....§ 

Cha:Pter  II.— The  British  Ox. — No  satisfactory  description  of  cattle  by  early 
writers — in  the  feudal  times — occasional  wild  cattle — those  of  Chillingham  Park 
— Present  cattle  classed  according  to  the  size  of  their  horns — the  middle-horns 
probably  the  original  breed— they  are  found  where  the  natives  retreated  from 
their  invaders — essentially  the  same  wherever  found        .  .  •  •    11 

Chapter  III. — The  Middle-horns. — The  Devons — The  proper  form  and  shape 
of  cattle— the  Devons  tried  by  this  test— the  Devon  bull— the  Devon  cow — the 
working  properties  of  the  Devon  ox — his  disposition  to  fatten — value  of  the  cow 
for  the  dairy— attempted  crosses — the  vale  of  Exeter— South  Devon  cattle — 
Somersetshire  cattle — pure  Devons  on  the  borders  of  Devon — gradual  change 
of  character — the  present  cattle — The  Herefords — description  of  them — com- 
parison between  them  and  the  Devons — fattening  properties — Sussex  cattle — 
description — comparison  with  Devons  and  Herefords — Sussex  cow — "West  Sus- 
sex cattle — Wales — general  character  of  the  Welsh  cattle — Pemrrokes — 
Glamorgatts — former  character  of  them — present  breed — late  improvement — 
Anglesey  cattle— Scotland— the  "We.st  Highland  cattle — the  Hebribes — 
Description  of  the  true  Kyloe — Hebridean  management — The  outer  Hebrides — 
the  tacksman— Argylesh  I  RE — the  cattle — rearing — Cantire — the  Shetland- 
ers — description — management — Aberdeen— description  of  the  cattle — the 
Kintore  ox — Ayrshire — present  state — cMttle — opinions  of  their  origin — their 
value  as  dairy-cows — produce— profit — fattening  properties  of  the  Ayrshires — 
management  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .IS 

Chapter  IV. — Polled  Cattle. — Galloways— Description  of  the  Galloways-- 
general  excellence  of  the  Galloways— comparisons  between  the  feeding  qualities 
of  Devons  and  Scots— Angus — the  polled  cattle — comparison  between  them  and 
the  Galloways — Norfolk — the  original  breed  horned-  source  of  the  present 
breed — Suffolk — description — extraordinary  instances  of  produce        .  63 


CONTENTS. 


Chaptkr  v.— The  Irish  Cattlk.— The  aboriginal  breed  mid.llo-horns— the 
Kerry  Cow— the  prevailing  bre -d  were  probably  the  Cravens — Improvement 
slower  in  Ireland  than  in  England— Mr.  Waller's  improvements  in  Meath— 
Lord  Masserene— Lord  Farnham— the  Earl  of  Rosse— Sir  H.  V.  Tempest         .    77 

Chapter  VI.— The  Lono-horns.— Originally  from  Craven— the  larger  and 
smaller  breed^arly  improvers — the  blacksmith  of  Linton — Sir  Thomas  Gres- 
ley — Mr.  "Webster— Bloxedge— Robert  Bakewell— his  principles— his  success — 
anecdotes— Twopenny — Mr.  Fowler— Shakspeare — Description  of  D — Mr.  Fow- 
ler's sale— Mr.  Prinsep— Description  of  the  Improved  Leicesters— strangely 
rapid  deterioration  and  disappearance  of  them — Derbyshire — description  of 
cattle— SHROPSHiRK—the  old  Shopshires — the  present  breed       .  .  .81 

Chapter  VII.— The  Short-horns.  —Description  of  the  old  breed— Sir  W.  St. 
Quintin — Mr.  Milbank — Mr.  C.  Colling — history  of  his  purchase  of  Hubback 
— Favorite— the  Durham  ox — cross  with  the  polled  Galloway— Bolingbroke — 
Johanna — Lady— prices  fetched  by  Lady's  progeny— sale  of  Mr.  C.  CoUiug's 
stock— Mr.  Charge  of  Newton— Mr.  Mason  of  Chilton— Mr.  G.  Coates's 
Short-Horn  Herd-Book — history  of  remarkable  short-horns— the  milking  pro- 
perties of  the  improved  short-horn  undervalued— not  calculated  for  work — cor- 
rections of  Berry— his  two  histories  of  Short-horns — Dutch  cattle  not  imported 
— Dobison — Bailey — Culley — law  against  importation — Short-horns  not  crossed 
with  white  wild  cattle — C.  Colling  not  exclusive  improver  of  Short-horns — 
Colling  increased  the  size  of  his  cattle — Hubback  had  no  Dutch  blood— an 
account  of  him — Galloway  crosses  or  alloy — made  by  chance — R.  Colling. 
The  improved  Yorkshire  cow— she  unites  the  two  qualities— quantities  of 
milk  yielded  by  her — description  of  her — Yokkshire— ^Xorth  Ridino  once 
occupied  by  black  cattle  alone — succeeded  by  the  old  Holderness— crossed  with 
the  improved  breed — West  Ridino — Mr  Mitton's  Badsworth — Lincot.nshire 
— the  unimproved  Lincolns — the  present  improved  Lincolns — the  Lincolnshire 
ox      .......  .  .  95 

Chapter  VIII.— The  Forkiox  Breeds  of  Cattle.— The  Alderney- quantity 
and  excellence  of  milk — fattens  readily — Nagore  cattle   ....  138 

Chapter  IX. — The  Structure  and  Diseases  of  the  Head  of  the  Ox. — The 
skeleton — the  head — shortness  and  breadth  of  forehead  in  the  bull — fine  small 
head  in  the  female — extent  of  frontal  sinuses — inflammation  of  them — the  horns 
— their  growth — treatment  of  fracture  of  them — age  as  indicated  by  the  horns 
— the  distinguishing  character  of  the  different  breeds — influence  of  sex— horned 
Galloways — comparison  between  the  horned  and  hornless  cattle — The  brain — 
•peculiar  conformation  of  the  brain  and  spinal  marrow — T'le  ear — difference  of 
in  different  cattle — diseases  of — The  eye — fracture  of  the  orbit — wounds,  tumors 
— The  eyelids — eruptions  on  them— enlargement  of  haw — inflammation  of  the 
eye — cataract— gutta  serena — cancer — Fracture  of  the  skull — Hydatids  in  the 
brain— water  in  the  head— apoplexy— inflammation  of  the  brain — locked  jaw — 
epilepsy — palsy — ne\irotomy — madness      .  .  ...  143 


CONTENTS.  yn 


Chapter  X. — The  Anatomy,  Uses,  and  Diseases,  of  the  Nostrils  anti 

Mouth.— The  nasal  bones — sense  of  smelling  acute — bleeding  from  the  nose 

leeches  in  it— polypus— coryza— glanders— farcy— The  bones  of  the  mouth— the 
lips — the  bars  of  the  mouth— the  pad  in  the  upper  jaw— the  teeth — the  age 
indicated  by  them— the  tongue— the  os  hyoides— gloss-anthrax  or  blain— thrush 

in  the  mouih — the  glands  and  blood-vessels  of  the  neck — the  parotid  gland 

barbs  or  paps — the  soft  palate — the  pharynx        ....  179 


Chapter  XI.— Anatomy  ajto  Diseases  of  the  Neck  and  Chest.— The  muscles 
of  the  neck  and  chest— the  crest  of  the  bull— form  and  size  of  the  neck— arteries 
of  the  neck— bleeding— bleeding  places— the  milk-vein  with  reference  to  bleed- 
ing— The  heart— inflammation  of  its  bag — the  bone  of  the  heart— the  pulse — 
the  capillary  vessels — inflammation — Fever — inflammatory  fever— quarter-evil 
— black  quarter— typhus  fever— The  veins— varicose  veins— The  structure  and 
form  of  the  chest — the  brisket— indications  of  its  different  forms— The  ribs — 
proper  form  and  direction  of— the  spine— the  larynx— the  round  curled  form  of 
the  epiglottis — the  windpipe— tracheotomy — the  sweetbread — the  bronchial 
tubes — catarrh  or  hoose — epidemic  catarrh — the  malignant  epidemic — murrain 
-epidemic  sore  mouth  and  feet  of  1840— sore  throat— inflammation  of  the  pha- 
rynx— puncturing  the  pharynx — bronchitis — multitude  of  worms  often  found  in 
the  air-passages— inflammation  of  the  lungs — acute  pneumonia — epidemic  ditto 
— pleurisy — chronic  pleurisy — consumption — importance  of  recognizing  the 
peculiar  cough  of  consumption        ...  .  ,  208 


Chapter  XII — The  Structure  and  Diseases  of  the  Gxh^let  and  Stomach, 
— The  peculiar  structure  of  the  gullet  of  ruminants — choking — the  oesophagus- 
probang— stricture  of  the  gullet — rupture  of  ditto — the  oesophagean  canal — the 
rumen  or  paunch — the  reticulum  or  honeycomb — the  manyplus  or  manifolds — 
the  abomasum  or  fourth  stomach — the  oesophagean  canal  continued — the  mus- 
cular pillars  of  its  floor — they  yield  to  a  solid  substance — circumstances  under 
which  fluids  pass  over  them  into  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs,  or  between 
them  into  the  rumen — the  food  macerated  in  the  rumen — passes  through  all  the 
compartments  of  it — thrown  into  the  reticulum — its  honeycomb  structure — the 
pellet  formed — forced  into  the  oesophagean  canal — re- ascends  the  gullet — remas- 
ticated — relumed — passes  along  the  canal  into  the  manyplus — the  leaves  of  the 
manyplus— the  fibrous  parts  of  the  food— indigestible  substances  in  the  paunch 
— concretions  in  ditto — distension  of  the  rumen  from  food— ditto  from  gas — 
hoove — the  stomach  pump — the  chloride  of  lime — loss  of  cud — poisons — yew — 
corrosive  sublimate— diseases  of  the  reticulum — diseases  of  the  manifolds — clew- 
bound— fardel-bound— malformation  of  manyplus— diseases  of  the  fourth 
Btomach        ...  ......  278 

Chapter  XIII.— The  Anatomy  and  Diseases  of  the  Spleen,  Liver,  and 
Pancreas. — Anatomy  and  function  of  the  spleen — inflammation  of  it — enlarge- 
ment—The liver — inflammation  of  it — haimorrhage— jaundice  or  yellows — The 
pancreas  ....  ...  319 


wiil  CONTENTS. 


Chapter  XIV. — The  Anatomy  and  Diseases  of  the  Intestines.  —The  duode- 
num— jejunum — ileum — caecum — colon — rectum — enlargement  of  the  mesenteric 
glands — inflammation  of  the  bowels-  -wood-evil — moor-ill — diarrhoea— dysentery 
— colic — strangulation — the  cords  or  gut-tie — introsusception— inversion  of  the 
rectum — constipation— calculi— worms— dropsy— hernia  or  rupture        .  .  329 

Chapter  XV. — The  Urinary  Organs  and  their  Diseases.— The  kidneys— red 
water—black  water — inflammation  of  the  kidneys — the  ureters— the  bladder — 
urinary  calculi — stone  in  the  kidney — ureters— bladder — urethra — rupture  of  the 
bladder — inversion  of  ditto  .....  366 

Chapter  XVI. — Parturition. — Abortion  or  slinking — symptoms  of  pregnancy — 
treatment  before  calving — natural  labor — the  ergot  of  rye — mechanical  assist- 
ance— unnatural  presentation — free-martins — the  Caesarian  operation — embry- 
otomy— inversion  of  the  womb — rupture  of  ditto — protrusion  of  ttie  bladder — 
retention  of  the  foetus — attention  after  calving — the  cleansing — flooding — 
dropping  after  calving — puerperal  or  milk  fever — sore  teats — garget — milk- 
sickness  or  trembles — cow-pox  .....  382 

Chapter  XVII. — The  Diseases  and  Management  of  Calves. — Navel-ill— cot> 
Btipation — diarrhoea — hoove — castration — method  of  castration  by  torsion        .  122 

Chapter  XVIIL— The  Diseases  of  the  Muscular  System  and  the  Extrem- 
ities.—Rheumatism — swellings  of  the  joints— ulcers  about  the  joints— opened 
joints— sprains— diseases  of  the  feet— foul  in  the  feet        ....  428 

CHAPTER  XIX.— The  Diseases  of  the  Skin.— Structure  of  the  skin— sensible 
and  insensible  perspiration — hide-bound— mange— mad  itch — lice— warbles — 
angle-b«rries — warts  ......  .  438 

Chapter  XX. — A  List  of  the  Medicines  Used  in  the  Treatment  of  the 
Diseases  of  Cattle — .^thiop's  mineral — aloes — alteratives — alum— ammonia 
—anodynes— antimonial  powder— blue  vitriol— butyr  of  antimony— antispas- 
modics— astringents  —  blisters — calamine — Colombo — calomel  —  camphor — can- 
tharide^— carraways  —  castor  oil  —  catechu  —  caustics— chalk  —  chamomile — 
charges — chloride  of  lime — clysters— cordials — corrosive  sublimate — croton — 
diaphoretics — digitalis — diuretics — drinks — elder — emetic  tartar — Epsom  salts 
— fomentations— gentian — ginger — Glauber's  salts — Goulard's  extrtict— helle- 
bore, black — iodine — ipecacuanha — laudanum  —  linseed  —  linseed  oil  —  1  unar 
eaustic — mashes — mercurial  ointment — mint — myrrh — nitre — pitch — poultices 
— ergot  of  rye — common  salt — setons — spirit  of  nitrous  ether — spirit,  rectified 
— sugar  of  lead — sulphur— tar — tonics — turpentine,  common — turpentine,  spirit 
of — rinegar — white  lead — white  vitriol      ...  .  .  447 


CHAPTER  I 


THE    NATURAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    OX. 


The  Ox  belongs  to  the  class  mammalia,  animals  having  mammae, 
or  teats  ;  the  order  ruminantia,  ruminating,  or  chewing  their  food 
a  second  time ;  the  tribe  hovidoe,  the  ox  kind  ;  the  genus  hos,  the 
ox,  the  horns  occupying  the  crest,  projecting  at  first  sideways,  and 
being  porous  or  cellular  within ;  and  the  sub-gi^nus  hos  taurus,  or 
the  domestic  ox. 

Distinguished  according  to  their  teeth,  they  have  eight  incisors,  or 
cutting  teeth,  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  none  in  the  upper.  They  have 
no  tusks,  but  they  have  six  molars,  or  grinding  teeth,  in  each  jaw, 
and  on  each  side. 

The  whole  would,  therefore,  be  represented  as  follows : — 

The  ox,  incisors  f,  canines  f,  molars  f-|.     Total,  32  teeth. 

The  native  country  of  the  ox,  reckoning  from  the  time  of  the  flood, 
was  the  plains  of  Ararat,  and  he  was  a  domesticated  animal  when  he 
issued  from  the  ark.  He  was  found  wherever  the  sons  of  Noah 
migrated,  for  he  was  necessary  to  the  existence  of  man  ;  and  even  to 
the  present  day,  wherever  man  has  trodden,  he  is  found  in  a  domes- 
ticated or  wild  state.  The  earliest  record  we  have  of  the  ox  is  in  the 
sacred  volume.  Even  in  the  antediluvian  age,  soon  after  the  expul- 
sion from  Eden,  the  sheep  had  become  the  servant  of  man  ;  and  it 
is  not  improbable  that  the  ox  was  subjugated  at  the  same  time.  It 
is  recorded  that  Jubal,  the  son  of  Laraech,  who  was  probably  born 
during  the  life-time  of  Adam,  was  the  father  of  such  as  have  cattle. 

The  records  of  profane  history  confirm  this  account  of  the  early 
domestication  and  acknowledged  value  of  this  animal,  for  it  was  wor- 
shipped by  the  Egyptians,  and  venerated  among  the  Indians.  The 
traditions  of  every  Celtic  nation  enroll  the  cow  among  the  earliest 
productions,  and  represent  it  as  a  kind  of  divinity. 


Cattle. 


The  parent  race  of  the  ox  is  said  to  have  been  much  larger  than 
any  of  the  present  varieties.  The  Urus,  in  his  wild  state  at  least, 
was  an  enormous  and  fierce  animal,  and  ancient  Iccrends  have  thrown 
around  him  an  air  of  mystery.  In  almost  every  part  of  the  Con- 
tinent, and  in  every  district  of  England,  skulls,  evidently  belonging  to 
cattle,  have  been  found,  far  exceeding  in  bulk  any  now  known. 
There  is  a  fine  specimen  in  the  British  Museum :  the  peculiarity  of 
the  horns  will  be  observed,  resembling  smaller  ones  dug  up  in  the 
mines  of  Cornwall,  preserved,  in  some  degree,  in  the  wild  cattle  of 
Chillingham  Park,  and  not  quite  lost  in  our  native  breeds  of  Devon 
and  East  Sussex,  and  those  of  the  Welsh  mountains  and  the  High- 
lands. We  believe  that  this  referred  more  to  individuals  than  to  the 
breed  generally,  for  there  is  no  doubt  that,  within  the  last  century, 
the  size  of  the  cattle  has  progressively  increased  in  England,  and  kept 
pace  with  the  improvement  of  agriculture. 

We  will  not  endeavor  to  follow  the  migrations  of  the  ox  from 
Western  Asia,  nor  the  change  in  size,  and  form,  and  value,  which  it 
underwent,  according  to  the  difference  of  climate  and  of  pasture,  as 
it  journeyed  on  toward  the  west,  for  there  are  no  records  of  this  on 
which  dependence  can  be  placed  ;  but  we  will  proceed  to  the  subject 
of  the  present  work,  the  British  Ox. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    BRITISH    OX. 

In  the  earliest  and  most  authentic  account  that  we  possess  of  the 
British  Isles,  the  Commentaries  of  Caesar,  we  learn  that  the  Britons 
possessed  great  numbers  of  cattle.  No  satisfactory  description  of 
these  cattle  occurs  in  any  ancient  author  ;  but  they,  with  occasional 
exceptions,  possessed  no  great  bulk  or  beauty. 

Caesar  tells  us  that  the  Britons  neglected  tillage,  and  lived  on  milk 
and  flesh  ;  and  other  authors  corroborate  this  account  of  the  early 
inhabitants  of  the  British  Islands.  It  was  that  occupation  and  mode 
of  life  which  suited  their  state  of  society.  The  island  was  divided 
into  many  petty  sovereignties  ;  no  fixed  property  was  secure  ;  and 
that  alone  was  valuable  whicli  might  be  hurried  away  at  the  threat- 
ened approach  of  an  invader.  Many  centuries  after  this,  when, 
although  one  sovereign  seemed  to  reign  paramount  over  the  whole  of 
the  kingdom,  there  continued  to  be  endless  contests  among  the  feudal 
barons,  and  still  that  property  alone  was  valuable  which  could  be 
secured  within  the  walls  of  the  castle,  or  driven  beyond  the  invader's 
reach  ;  an  immense  stock  of  provisions  was  always  stored  up  in  the 
various  fortresses,  both  for  the  vassals  and  the  cattle ;  or  it  was  con- 
trived that  the  latter  should  be  driven  to  the  demesnes  of  some 
friendly  baron,  or  concealed  in  some  inland  recess. 

When  the  government  became  more  powerful  and  settled,  and 
property  of  every  kind  was  proportionably  secured,  as  well  as  more 
equally  divided,  the  plough  came  into  use  ;  and  agricultural  produc- 
tions were  oftener  cultivated,  the  reaping  of  which  was  sure  after  the 
labor  of  sowing.  Cattle  were  now  comparatively  neglected,  and,  for 
Bome  centuries,  injuriously  so.  Their  numbers  diminished,  and  their 
size  appears  to  have  diminished,  too ;  and  it  is  only  within  the  last 
150  years  that  any  serious  and  successful  efforts  have  been  made 
jiaterially  to  improve  them. 

In  the  comparative  roving  and  uncertain  life  which  our  earlier  and 
ater  ancestors  led,  their  cattle  would  sometimes  stray  and  be  lost. 
The  country  was  then  overgrown  with  forests,  and  the  beasts  betook 
themselves  to  the  recesses  of  these  woods,  and  became  wild,  and 
fomeiimeb  ferocipus.     They,  by  degrees,  grew  so  numerous,  as  to  bo 


12  CATTLE. 


dangerous  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  districts.  One  of 
the  chronicles  informs  us,  that  many  of  them  harbored  in  the  forests 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  metropohs.  Strange  stories  are  told  of  some 
of  them,  and  doubtless,  when  irritated,  they  were  fierce  and  dangerous 
enough.  As,  however,  civilization  advanced,  and  the  forests  became 
thinned  and  contracted,  these  animals  were  seldomer  seen,  and  at 
length  almost  disappeared.  A  few  of  them  yet  remain  in  Chatel- 
herault  Park,  belonging  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  in  Lanarkshire  ; 
and  in  the  park  of  Chillingham  Castle,  in  Northumberland,  the  seat 
of  the  Earl  of  Tankerville. 

The  wild  breed,  from  being  untameable,  can  only  be  kept  within 
walls,  or  good  fences ;  consequently,  very  few  of  them  are  now  to  be 
met  with,  except  in  the  parks  of  some  gentlemen,  who  keep  them  for 
ornament,  and  as  a  curiosity.  Their  color  is  invariably  white,  muzzle 
black  ;  the  whole  of  the  inside  of  the  ear,  and  about  one-third  of  the 
outside,  from  the  tips  downward,  red  ;  horns,  white,  with  black  tips, 
very  fine,  and  bent  upward  ;  some  of  the  bulls  have  a  thin,  upright 
mane,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  or  two  inches  long.  The  weight  of 
the  oxen  is  from  thirty-five  to  forty-five  stone,  and  the  cows  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty-five  stone  the  four  quarters  (fourteen  pound  to 
the  stone).  The  beef  is  finely  marbled,  and  of  excellent  flavor.  The 
six  year  old  oxen  are  generall}^  very  good  beef ;  whence  it  may  be 
fairly  supposed  that,  in  proper  situations,  they  would  feed  well. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  any  person,  they  set  off  in  full  gallop, 
and,  at  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  yards,  make  a  wheel 
round,  and  come  boldly  up  again  in  a  menacing  manner  ;  on  a  sud- 
den they  make  a  full  stop  at  the  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  yards,  look- 
ing w^ildly  at  the  object  of  their  surprise  ;  but  upon  the  least  motion 
they  all  again  turn  round,  and  fly  off  with  equal  speed,  but  not  to 
the  same  distance,  forming  a  shorter  circle,  and  again  returning  with 
a  more  threatening  aspect  than  before  ;  they  approach  probably 
within  thirty  yards,  when  they  again  make  another  stand,  and  then 
fly  off ;  this  they  do  several  times,  shortening  their  distance,  and 
advancing  nearer  and  nearer,  till  they  come  Avithin  such  a  short  dis- 
tance that  most  people  think  it  prudent  to  leave  them. 

When  the  cows  calve,  they  hide  their  calves  for  a  week  or  ten 
days  in  some  sequestered  situation,  and  go  and  suckle  them  two  or 
three  times  a  day.  If  any  person  come  near  the  calves,  they  clap 
their  heads  close  to  the  ground,  to  hide  tliemselves :  this  is  a  proof 
of  their  native  wildness. 

The  dams  aHow  no  person  to  touch  their  calves,  without  attacking 
them  with  impetuous  ferocity.  When  any  one  happens  to  be 
wounded,  or  is  grown  weak  and  feeble  through  age  or  sickness,  the 
rest  of  the  herd  set  on  it  and  gore  it  to  death. 

The  breeds  of  cattle,  as  they  are  now  found  in  Great  Britain,  are 
almost  as  various  as  the  soil  of  the  different  districts,  or  the  fancie* 


THE  BRITISH  OX. 


of  the  breeders.  They  have,  however,  been  very  conveniently 
classed  according  to  the  comparative  size  of  the  horns ;  the  long 
horns,  originally  from  Lancashire,  much  improved  by  Mr.  Bakewell, 
of  Leicester-hire,  and  established  through  the  greater  part  of  the 
midland  counties  ;  the  short  horns,  mostly  cultivated  in  the  northern 
counties,  and  in  Lincolnshire,  and  many  of  them  found  in  every  part 
of  the  kingdom  where  the  farmer  attends  much  to  his  dairy,  or  a 
large  supply  of  milk  is  wanted ;  and  the  middle  horns,  not  derived 
from  a  mixture  of  the  two  preceding,  but  a  distinct  and  valuable 
and  beautiful  breed,  inhabiting  principally  the  north  of  Devon,  the  east 
of  Sussex,  Herefordshire, and  Gloucestershire;  and, of  diminished  bulk, 
and  with  somewhat  different  character,  the  cattle  of  the  Scottish  and 
the  Welsh  mountains.  The  Alderney,  with  her  crumpled  horn,  is 
found  on  the  southern  cost,  and,  in  smaller  numbers,  in  gentlemen's 
parks  and  pleasure-grounds  every  where ;  while  the  polled,  or  horn- 
less cattle,  prevail  in  Suffolk,  and  Norfolk,  and  in  Galloway,  whence 
they  were  first  derived 

These,  however,  have  been  intermingled  in  every  possible  way. 
They  are  found  pure  only  in  their  native  districts,  or  on  the  estates 
of  some  cpulent  and  spirited  individuals.  Each  county  has  its  own 
mongrel  breed,  often  difficult  to  be  described,  and  not  always  to  be 
traced — neglected  enough,  yet  suited  to  the  soil  and  to  the  climate ; 
and,  among  little  farmers,  maintaining  their  station,  in  spite  of  at- 
tempts at  improvements  by  the  intermixture  or  the  substitution  of 
foreign  varieties. 

The  character  of  each  important  variety,  and  the  relative  value  of 
each  for  breeding,  grazing,  the  dairy,  or  the  plough,  will  be  consi- 
dered before  we  inquire  into  the  structure  or  general  and  medical 
treatment  of  cattle.  Much  dispute  has  arisen  as  to  the  original  breed 
of  British  cattle.  The  battle  has  been  stoutly  fought  between  the 
advocates  of  the  middle  and  the  long  horns.  The  short  horns  and 
the  polls  can  have  no  claim  ;  the  latter,  although  it  has  existed  in 
certain  districts  from  time  immemorial,  was  probably  an  accidental 
variety. 

We  are  very  much  disposed  to  adjudge  the  honor  to  the  "  middle 
horns."  The  Icmg  horns  are  evidently  of  Irish  extraction,  as  in  due 
place  we  shall  endeavor  to  show. 

Britain  has  shared  the  fate  of  other  nations,  and  oftener  than  they, 
has  been  overrun  and  subjugated  by  invaders.  As  the  natives  re- 
treated, they  carried  with  them  some  portion  of  their  property, 
which,  in  those  early  times,  consisted  principally  in  cattle.  They 
drove  along  with  them  as  many  as  they  could,  when  they  retired  to 
the  fortresses  of  north  Devon  and  Cornwall,  or  the  mountainous  re- 
gions of  Wales,  or  when  they  took  refuge  in  the  wealds  of  east  Sus- 
sex ;  and  there,  retaining  all  their  prejudices,  customs  and  manners, 


CATTLE. 


were  jealous  of  the  preservation  of  that  wliich  reminded  them  of 
their  native  country  before  it  yielded  to  a  foreign  yoke. 

In  this  manner  was  preserved  the  ancient  breed  of  British  cattle. 
Difference  of  climate  wrought  some  change,  particularly  in  their 
bulk.  Th^  rich  pasture  of  Sussex  fattened  the  ox  into  its  superior 
size  and  m  Aght.  The  plentiful,  but  not  so  luxuriant  herbage  of  the 
north  of  Devon,  produced  a  smaller  and  more  active  animal,  while 
the  privations  of  Wales  lessened  the  bulk  and  thickened  the  hide  of 
the  Welsh  runt.  As  for  Scotland,  it  set  its  invaders  at  defiance ;  or 
its  inhabitants  retreated  for  a  while,  and  soon  turned  again  on  their 
pursuers.  They  were  proud  of  their  country,  of  their  cattle,  their 
choicest  possession  ;  and  there,  too,  the  cattle  were  preserved,  un- 
mixed and  undegenerated. 

Thence  it  resulted,  that  in  Devon,  in  Sussex,  in  Wales,  and  in 
Scotland,  the  cattle  have  been  the  same  from  time  immemorial; 
while  in  all  the  eastern  coast,  and  through  every  district  of  England, 
the  breed  of  cattle  degenerated,  or  lost  its  original  character ;  it 
consisted  of  animals  brought  from  every  neighboring  and  some  re- 
mote districts,  mingled  in  every  possible  variety,  yet  conforming 
itself  to  the  soil  and  the  climate. 

Observations  w^ill  convince  us  that  the  cattle  in  Devonshire,  Sus- 
sex, Wale?,  and  Scotland,  are  essentially  the  same,  lliey  are  middle 
horned  ;  not  extraordinary  milkers,  and  remarkably  f"^>-  the  quality 
rather  than  the  quantity  of  their  milk ;  active  at  work  and  with  an 
unequalled  aptitude  to  fatten.  They  have  all  the  characters  of  the 
same  breed,  changed  by  soil,  climate,  and  time,  yet  little  changed  by 
man.  We  may  almost  trace  the  color,  namely,  the  red  of  the  Devon, 
the  Sussex,  and  the  Hereford  ;  and  where  the  black  alone  are  now 
found,  the  memory  of  the  red  prevails.  Every  one  who  has  com- 
pared the  Devon  cattle  with  the  wild  breed  of  Chatelherault  park,  or 
Chillingham  cas1<le,  has  been  struck  with  the  great  resemblance  ia 
many  points,  notwithstanding  the  difference  of  color,  while  they  bear 
no  likeness  at  all  to  the  cattle  of  the  neighboring  country. 

For  these  reasons  we  consider  the  middle  horns  to  be  the  native 
breed  of  Great  Britain,  and  they  shall  first  pass  in  review  before  us. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE   MIDDLE   HORNS. 


THE    DEVONS. 


The  north  of  Devon  has  been  long  celebrated  for  a  breed  of  cattle 
beautiful  in  the  highest  degree,  and  in  activity  at  work  and  aptitude 
to  fatten  unrivalled.  The  native  country  of  the  Devons,  and  where 
they  are  found  in  a  state  of  the  greatest  purity,  extends  from  the 
rive'r  Taw  westward,  skirting  along  the  Bristol  Channel :  the  breed 
becoming  more  mixed,  and  at  length  comparatively  lost  before  we  ar- 
rive at  the  Parrett.  Inland  it  extends  by  Barnstaple,  South  Molton, 
and  Chumleigh,  as  far  as  Tiverton,  and  thence  to  Wellington,  where 
again  the  brewed  becomes  unfrequent,  or  it  is  mixed  before  we  reach 
Taunton.  More  eastward  the  Somersets  and  the  Welsh  mingle  with 
it,  or  supersede  it.  To  the  south  there  prevails  a  larger  variety,  a  cross 
probably  of  the  Devon  with  the  Somerset ;  and  on  the  west  the 
Cornish  cattle  are  found,  or  contaminate  the  breed.  The  Devonshire 
man  confines  them  within  a  narrower  district,  and  will  scarcely  allow 
them  to  be  found  with  purity  beyond  his  native  county.  From  Port- 
lock  to  Biddeford,  and  a  little  to  the  north  and  the  south,  is,  in  his 
mind,  the  peculiar  and  only  residence  of  the  true  Devon. 

From  the  earliest  records  the  breed  has  here  remained  the  same  ; 
or  if  not  quite  as  perfect  as  at  the  present  moment,  yet  altered  in  no 
essential  point  until  within  the  last  thirty  years.  That  is  not  a  little 
surprising  when  it  is  remembered  that  a  considerable  part  of  this 
district  is  not  a  breeding  country,  and  that  even  a  proportion,  and 
that  not  a  small  one,  of  Devonshire  cattle,  are  bred  out  of  the  county. 
On  the  borders  of  Somerset  and  Dorset,  and  partly  in  both,  extend- 
ing southward  from  Crewkern,  the  country  assumes  the  form  of  an 
extensive  valley,  and  principally  supphes  the  Exeter  market  with 
calves.  Those  that  are  dropped  in  February  and  March,  are  kept 
until  May,  and  then  sold  to  the  drovers,  who  convey  them  to  Exeter. 
They  are  there  purchased  by  the  Devonshire  farmers,  who  keep 
them  for  two  or  three  years,  when  they  are  sold  to  the  Somersetshire 
o-raziers,  who  fatten  them  for  the  London  market ;  so  that  a  portion 
of  the  Devons,  and  of  the  very  finest  of  the  breed,corae  from  Somer- 
set and  Dorset. 


16  CATTLE 


The  truth  is,  that  the  Devonshire  farmers  were,  until  the  last  cen- 
tury, not  conscious  that  they  possessed  anything  superior  to  other 
breeds  ;  but,  like  agriculturists  everywhere  else,  they  bought  and 
bred  without  care  or  selection.  It  is  only  within  the  last  one  hundred 
and  fifty  or  sixty  years  that  any  systematic  efforts  have  been  made 
to  improve  the  breeds  of  cattle  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  we  must  ac 
knowledge,  that  the  Devonshire  men,  with  all  their  advantages,  and 
with  such  good  ground  to  work  upon,  were  not  the  first  to  stir,  and. 
for  a  time,  were  not  the  most  zealous  when  they  were  roused  to  ex 
ertion.  They  are  indebted  to  the  nature  of  their  soil  and  climate  foj 
the  beautiful  specimens  which  they  possess  of  the  native  breed  ol 
our  island,  and  they  have  retained  this  breed  almost  in  spite  of 
themselves. 

A  spirit  of  emulation  was  at  length  kindled,  and  even  the  Devon? 
have  been  materially  improved,  and  brought  to  such  a  degree  o^ 
perfection,  that,  take  them  all  in  all,  they  would  suffer  from  inter- 
mixture with  any  other  bieed. 

Whatever  be  the  breed,  there  are  certain  conformations  which  are 
mdispensable  to  the  thriving  and  valuable  ox  or  cow.  When  we  have 
a  clear  idea  of  these,  we  shall  be  able  more  easily  to  form  an  ac- 
curate judgment  of  the  different  breeds.  If  there  is  one  part  of  tkj 
frame,  the  form  of  which,  more  than  of  any  other,  renders  the  animal 
valuable,  it  is  the  chest.  There  must  be  room  enough  for  the  heart 
to  beat,  and  the  lungs  to  play,  or  sufficient  blood  for  the  purposes  of 
nutriment  and  of  strength  will  not  be  circulated  ;  nor  will  it  thorough- 
ly undergo  that  vital  change  which  is  essential  to  the  proper  discharge 
of  every  function.  We  look,  therefore,  first  of  all  to  the  wide  and 
deep  girth  about  the  heart  and  lungs.  We  must  have  both  :  the 
proportion  in  which  the  one  or  the  other  may  preponderate,  will  de- 
pend on  the  service  we  requii'e  from  the  animal ;  we  can  excuse  a 
slight  degree  of  flatness  on  the  sides,  for  he  will  be  lighter  in  the 
forehand,  and  more  active ;  but  the  grazier  must  have  width  as  well 
as  depth.  Not  only  about  the  heart  and  lungs,  but  over  the  whole  of 
the  ribs,  must  we  have  both  length  and  roundness  ;  the  hooijcd,  as 
well  as  the  deep  barrel  is  essential  ;  there  must  be  room  for  the  capa- 
cious paunch,  room  for  the  materials  from  which  the  blood  is  to  be 
provided.  There  should  be  little  space  between  the  ribs  and  the  hips. 
This  seems  to  be  indispensable  in  the  ox,  as  it  regards  a  good  healthy 
constitution,  and  a  propensity  to  fatten  ;  but  a  largeness  and  droop- 
ing of  the  belly  is  excusable  in  the  cow,  or  rather,  though  it  diminishes 
the  beauty  of  the  animal,  it  leaves  room  for  the  uddei  ;  and  if  it  is 
also  accompanied  by  swelling  milk  veins,  it  generally  indicates  her 
value  in  the  dairy. 

This  roundness  and  depth  of  the  barrel,  is  most  advantangeous  in 
proportion  as  it  is  found  behind  the  point  of  the  elbow,  more  than  . 
between  the  shoulders  and  legs ;    or  low  down  between  the  legs. 


THE  DEVONS. 


rather  than  upward  toward  the  withers  :  for  it  diminishes  the  heaviness 
before,  and  the  comparative  bulk  of  the  coarser  parts  of  tlie  animal, 
which  is  always  a  very  great  consideration. 

The  loins  should  be  wide,  for  they  are  the  prime  parts ;  they 
should  extend  far  along  the  back  :  and  although  the  belly  should  not 
hang  down,  the  flanks  should  be  round  and  deep.  The  hips,  without 
being  ragged,  should  be  large  ;  round  rather  than  wide,  and  present 
ing,  when  handled,  plenty  of  muscle  and  fat.  The  thighs  should  be 
full  and  long,  close  together  when  viewed  from  behind,  or  have  a 
good  twist,  and  the  farther  down  they  continue  close  the  better. 
The  legs  short,  varying  like  other  parts  according  to  the  destina- 
tion of  the  animal ;  but  decidedly  short,  for  there  is  an  almost  inse- 
parable connection  between  length  of  leg  and  lightness  of  carcass, 
and  shortness  of  leg  and  propensity  to  fatten.  The  bones  of  the 
legs,  and  they  only,  being  taken  as  a  sample  of  the  bony  structure  of 
the  frame,  generally,  should  be  small,  but  not  too  small — small  enough 
for  the  well-known  accompaniment,  a  propensity  to  fatten  ;  but  not 
so  small  as  to  indicate  delicacy  of  constitution,  and  liability  to  disease. 

Last  of  all,  the  hide — the  most  important  thing  of  all — thin,  but 
not  so  thin  as  to  indicate  that  the  animal  can  endure  no  hardship ; 
movable,  mellow,  but  not  too  loose,  and  particularly  well  covered 
with  fine  long  and  soft  hair.  We  shall  enter  more  fully  and  satisfac- 
torily into  this  subject  in  the  proper  place  ;  but  this  bird's-eye  view 
mav  be  useful.     We  return  to  the  Devon  cattle. 


DEVON    BULL. 


18 


CATTLE. 


The  more  perfect  speciraens  of  the  Devon  breed  are  thus  distin- 
guished. '  The  horn  of  the  hull  ought  to  be  neither  too  low  nor  too 
high,  tapering  at  the  points,  not  too  thick  at  the  root,  white  below, 
and  of  a  yellow  or  waxy  color  at  the  tip.  The  eye  should  be  clear, 
bright,  and  prominent,  showing  much  of  the  white,  and  have  around 
it  a  circle  of  a  dark  orange  color.  The  forehead  should  be  flat,  in- 
dented, and  small,  for,  by  the  smallness  of  the  forehead,  the  purity 
of  the  breed  is  very  much  estimated.  The  cheek  should  be  small, 
and  the  muzzle  fine  :  the  nose  must  be  of  a  clear  yellow.  The  nos- 
tril sliould  be  high  and  open  :  the  hair  curled  about  the  head.  The 
neck  should  be  thick,  and  that  sometimes  almost  to  a  fault. 

Excepting  in  the  head  and  neck,  the  form  of  the  bull  does  not 
materially  differ  from  that  of  the  ox,  but  he  is  considerably  smaller. 
There  are  exceptions,  however,  to  this  rule. 


WORKING    DEVON    OX. 


The  head  of  the  ox  is  small,  very  singularly  so,  relatively  to  his 
bulk  ;  yet  it  has  a  striking  breadth  of  forehead,  It, is  clean  and  free 
from  flesh  about  the  jaws.  The  eye  is  very  prominent,  and  the  ani- 
mal has  a  pleasing  vi\  acity  of  countenance,  distinguishing  it  from 
the  heavy  aspect  of  many  other  breeds.  Its  neck  is  long  and  thin, 
admirably  adapting  it  for  the  collar,  or  the  more  common  and  rudei 
yoke. 

It  is  accounted  one  of  the  characters  of  good  cattle,  that  the  line 
of  the  neck  from  the  horns  to  the   wi.hers  should  scarcely  deviate 


THE  DEVONS.  )» 


from  that  of  the  back.  In  the  Devon  ox,  however,  there  is  a  pecu- 
Har  rising  of  the  forehand,  reminding  us  of  the  blood-horse,  and 
essentially  connected  with  the  free  and  quick  action  by  which  this 
breed  has  ever  been  distinguished.  It  has  little  or  no  dewlap 
depending  from  its  throat.  The  horns  are  longer  than  those  of  the 
bull,  smaller,  and  fine  even  to  the  base,  and  of  a  lighter  color,  and 
tipped  with  yellow.  The  animal  is  light  in  the  withers  ;  the  shoulders 
a  little  oblique  ;  the  breast  deep,  and  the  bosom  open  and  wide,  par- 
ticularly as  contrasted  with  the  fineness  of  the  withers.  The  fore- 
legs are  wide  apart,  looking  like  pillars  that  have  to  support  a  great 
weight.  The  point  of  the  shoulder  is  rarely  or  never  seen.  There  is 
no  projection  of  bone,  but  there  is  a  kind  of  level  line  running  on  to 
the  neck. 

These  are  characteristic  and  important  points.  Angular  bony  pro- 
jections are  never  found  in  a  beast  that  carries  much  flesh  and  fat. 
The  fineness  of  the  withers,  the  slanting  direction  of  the  shoulder,  and 
the  broad  and  open  breast,  imply  strength,  speed,  and  aptitude  to 
fatten.  A  narrow-chested  animal  can  never  be  useful  either  for 
workincr  or  trrazinsr. 

With  all  the  lightness  of  the  Devon  ox,  there  is  a  pomt  about  him, 
disliked  in  the  blood  or  riding-horse,  and  not  approved  in  the  horse 
of  light  draught — the  legs  are  far  under  the  chest,  or  rather  the 
breast  projects  far  nnd  wide  before  the  legs.  We  see  the  advantage 
of  this  in  the  beast  of  slow  draught,  who  rarely  breaks  into  a  trot,  ex- 
cept when  he  is  goaded  on  in  catching  times,  and  the  division  of 
whose  foot  secures  him  from  stumbling.  The  lightness  of  th^  other 
parts  of  his  form,  however,  counterbalances  heaviness  here. 

The  legs  are  straight,  at  least  in  the  best  herds.  If  they  are  in- 
kneed,  or  crooked  in  the  fore-legs,  it  argues  a  deficiency  in  blood,  and 
comparative  incapacity  for  work  ;  and  for  grazing,  too,  for  they  will 
be  hollow  behind  the  withers,  a  point  for  which  nothing  can  compen- 
sate, because  it  takes  away  so  much  from  the  place  where  good  flesh 
and  fat  should  be  thickly  laid  on,  and  diminishes  the  capacity  of  the 
chest  and  the  power  of  creating  arterial  and  nutritious  blood. 

The  fore-arm  is  particularly  large  and  powerful.  It  swells  out 
suddenly  above  the  knee,  but  is  soon  lost  in  the  substance  of  the 
shoulder.  Below  the  knee,  the  bone  is  small  to  a  very  extraordinary 
degree,  indicating  a  seeming  want  of  strength  ;  but  this  impression 
imtiiediately  ceases,  for  the  smallness  is  only  in  front — it  is  only  in 
the  bone  :  the  leg  is  deep,  and  the  sinews  are  far  removed  from  the 
bone,  promising  both  strength  and  speed.  It  may  perhaps  be 
objected  that  the  leg  is  a  little  too  long.  It  would  be  so  in  an  ani- 
mal destined  only  to  graze  ;  but  this  is  a  working  animal,  and  some 
ength  of  leg  is  necessary  to  get  him  actively  over  the  ground. 

There  is  a  very  trifling  fall  behind  the  withers,  but  no  hollowness, 
and  the  line  of  the  back  is  straight  from  them  to  the  setting  on  of  the 


20  CATTLE. 


tail.  If  tliere  is  any  seeming  fault  in  the  beast,  it  is  that  the  sides 
are  a  little  too  flat.  It  will  appear,  however,  that  this  does  not  in- 
terfere with  feeding,  w^hile  a  deep,  although  somewhat  flat  chest  ia 
best  adapted  for  speed. 

The  two  last  ribs  are  particularly  bold  and  prominent,  leaving 
room  for  the  stomachs  and  other  parts  concerned  in  digestion  to  be 
fully  developed.  The  hips,  or  buckles,  are  high  up,  and  on  a  level 
with  the  back,  whether  the  beast  is  fat  or  lean.  The  hind  quarters, 
or  the  space  from  the  hip  to  the  point  of  the  rump,  are  particularly 
long,  and  well  filled  up — a  point  of  importance  both  for  grazing  and 
working.  It  leaves  room  for  flesh  in  the  most  valuable  part,  and  in- 
dicates much  })0wer  behind,  equally  connected  with  strength  and 
speed.  This  is  an  improvement  quite  of  modern  date.  The  fullness 
here,  and  the  siveUing  out  of  the  thigh  below,  are  of  much  more  consequence 
than  the  jyrominence  of  fat  which  is  so  much  admired  on  the  rump  of 
many  prize  cattle. 

The  setting  on  of  the  tail  is  high  ;  on  a  level  with  the  back ;  rarely 
much  elevated  or  depressed.  This  is  another  great  point,  as  con- 
nected with  the  perfection  of  the  hind  quarters.  The  tail  itself  is 
long  and  small,  and  taper,  with  a  round  bunch  of  hair  at  the  bottom. 

The  skin  of  the  Devon,  with  his  curly  hair,  is  exceedingly  mellow 
and  elastic.  Graziers  know  that  there  is  not  a  more  important  point 
than  this.  When  the  skin  can  he  easily  raised  from  the  hips,  it  shows 
that  there  is  room  to  set  on  fat  below. 

The  skin  is  thin  rather  than  thick.  Its  appearance  of  thickness 
irises  from  the  curl}^  hair  with  which  it  is  covered,  and  curl}^  in  pro- 
portion'to  the  condition  and  health  of  the  animal.  'iliese  curls  run 
like  little  ripples  on  water.  Some  of  these  cattle  have  the  hair 
smooth,  but  then  it  should  be  fine  and  soft.  Tliose  with  curled 
hair  are  more  hardy,  and  fatten  more  kindly.  The  favorite  color  is 
a  blood  red.  This  is  supposed  to  indicate  purity  of  breed  ;  but  there 
are  many  good  cattle  approaching  almost  to  a  dark  bay.  If  the 
eye  is  clear  and  good,  and  the  skin  mellow,  the  paler  colors  wnll  bear 
hard  work,  and  fatten  as  well  as  others  ;  but  a  beast  with  pale  hair, 
and  hard  under  the  hand,  and  the  eye  dark  and  dead,  will  be  a  slug- 
gish worker,  and  an  uprofitable  feeder.  Those  of  a  yellow  color  are 
said  to  be  subject  to  diarrhoea,  or  scouring. 

These  are  the  principal  points  of  a  good  Devon  ox ;  but  he  used 
10  be,  perhaps  is  yet,  a  little  too  flat-sided,  and  the  rump  narrowed 
too  rapidly  behind  the  hip  bones  ;  there  was  too  much  space  between 
the  hip  bones  and  the  last  rib  ;  and  he  was  too  light  for  tenacious 
and  strong  soils. 

A  selection  from  the  most  perfect  animals  of  the  true  breed — the 
bone  still  small  and  the  neck  fine,  but  the  brisket  deep  and  wide,  and 
down  to  the  knees,  and  not  an  atom  of  flatness  all  over  the  side — 
these  have  improved  the  strength  and  bulk  of  the  Devon  ox,  without 


THE  DEVONS. 


impairing,  in  the  slightest  degree,  his  activity,  his  beauty,  or  his  pro- 
pensity to  fatteL. 


DEVON    ox. 
Commencing  to  Feed. 

There  are  few  things  more  remarkable  about  the  Devon  cattle  than 
the  comparative  smallness  of  the  cow.  The  bull  is  a  great  deal  lesi 
than  the  ox,  and  the  cow.  smaller  than  the  bull.  This  is  some  disad- 
vantage, and  the  breeders  are  aware  of  it ;  for,  although  it  may  not 
be  necessary  to  have  a  large  bull,  and  especially  as  those  of  any 
extraordinary  size  are  seldom  handsome  in  all  their  points,  but  some- 
where or  other  present  coarseness  or  deformity,  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble to  procure  large  and  serviceable  oxen,  except  from  a  somewhat 
■roomy  cow.  These  cows,  however,  although  small,  possess  that 
roundness  and  projection  of  the  two  or  three  last  ribs,  which  make 
them  actually  more  roomy  than  a  careless  examination  of  them  would 
indicate.  The  cow  is  particularly  distinguished  for  her  full,  round, 
clear  eye,  the  gold-colored  circle  round  the  eye,  and  the  same  color 
on  the  inside  skin  of  the  ear.  The  countenance  cheerful,  and  the 
muzzle  orange  or  yellow.  The  jaws  free  from  thickness,  and  the 
throat  from  dewlap.  The  points  of  the  back  and  the  hind  quarters 
different  from  those  of  other  breeds,  having  more  of  roundne«  and 
beauty,  and  being  free  from  angles. 


22 


CATTLE. 


The  qualities  of  the  Devons  may  be  referred  lo  three  points;  their 
working,  fattening,  and  milking. 


DEVON  cow. 

Where  the  ground  is  not  too  heav}^  the  Devon  oxen  are  unrivalled 
at  the  plough.  They  have  a  quickness  of  action  which  no  other 
breed  can  equal,  and  verj^  few  horses  exceed.  They  have  a  docility 
and  goodness  of  temper,  and  stoutness  and  honesty  of  work,  to  which 
many  horses  cannot  pretend.  It  is  a  common  day's  work,  on  fallow 
land,  for  four  Devon  steers  to  plough  two  acres  with  a  double  furrow 
plough.  Four  good  steers  will  do  as  much  work  in  the  field,  or  on 
the  road,  as  three  horses,  and  in  as  quick,  and  often  quicker  time, 
although  farmers  calculate  two  oxen  equal  to  one  horse.  The  prin- 
cipal objection  to  Devon  oxen  is,  that  they  have  not  sufficient  strength 
for  tenacious,  clayey  soils :  they  will,  however,  exert  their  strength  to 
the  utmost,  and  stand  many  a  dead  pull,  which  few  horses  could  be 
induced  or  foi  ced  to  attempt.  They  are  uniformly  worked  in  yokes, 
and  no«  in  collars.  Four  oxen,  or  six  growing  steers,  are  the  usual 
team  employed  in  the  plough. 

The  opponents  of  ox-husbandry  should  visit  the  valleys  of  north  or 
-outh  De\on,  to  see  what  this  animal  is  capable  of  performing,  and 
now  he  performs  it. 

The  profit  derived  from  the  use  of  oxen  in  this  district  arises  from 
the  activity  to  which  they  are  trained,  and  which  is  unknown  in  any 
other  part  of  the  kingdom.  During  harvest  time,  and  in  catching 
weather,  they  are  sometimes  tt  :tted  along  with  the  empty  wagons. 


THE  DEVONS. 


at  the  rate  of  six  miles  an  hour,  a  degree  of  speed  which  no  other 
ox  but  the  Devon  has  been  able  to  stand. 

It  may  appear  singular  to  the  traveler,  that  in  some  of  the  districts 
that  are  supposed  to  be  the  very  head-quarteis  of  the  Devon  cattle, 
they  are  seldom  used  for  the  plough.  The  explanation,  however, 
is  plain  enough.  The  demand  for  them  among  graziers  is  so  great, 
that  the  breeders  obtain  a  remunerating  price,  for  them  at  an 
earlier  age  than  that  at  which  they  are  generally  broken  m  for  the 
plough. 

They  are  usually  taken  into  work  at  about  two  years  old,  and  are 
worked  until  they  are  four,  or  five,  or  six ;  they  are  then  grazed,  or 
kept  on  hay,  and  in  ten  or  twelve  months,  and  without  any  further 
trouble,  are  fit  for  the  market.  If  the  grass  land  is  good,  no  corn, 
or  cake,  or  turnips,  are  required  for  the  first  winter  ;  but,  of  course, 
for  a  second  winter  these  must  be  added.  The  grazier  likes  this 
breed  best  at  five  years  old,  and  they  will  usually,  when  taken  from 
the  plough,  fetch  as  much  money  as  at  six.  A  t  eight  or  nine  years, 
or  older,  they  are  rapidly  declining  in  value. 

After  having  been  worked  lightly  on  the  hills  for  two  years,  they 
are  bought  at  four  years  old  by  the  tillage- farmer  of  the  vales,  and 
taken  into  hard  work  from  four  to  six  ;  and,  what  deserves  considera- 
tion, an  ox  must  be  thus  worked  in  order  for  him  to  attain  his  fullest 
size.  If  he  is  kept  idle  until  he  is  five  or  six,  he  will  invariably  be 
stinted  in  his  growth.  At  six  he  reaches  his  full  stature,  unless  he  is 
naturally  disposed  to  be  of  more  than  ordinary  size,  and  then  he  con- 
tinues to  grow^  for  another  half  year.  The  Devon  oxen  are  rarely 
shod,  and  very  rarely  lame. 

Their  next  quality  is  their  disposition  to  fatten,  and  very  few  rival 
them  here.  Some  very  satisfactory  experiments  have  been  made  on 
this  point.  They  do  not,  indeed,  attain  the  great  weight  of  some 
breeds  ;  but,  in  a  given  time,  they  acquire  more  flesh,  and  with  less 
consumption  of  food,  and  their  flesh  is  b^^autiful  in  its  kind.  It  is 
mottled,  or  marbled,  so  pleasing  to  the  eye  and  to  the  taste. 

For  the  dairy,  the  Devons  must  be  acknowledged  to  be  inferior  to 
several  other  breeds.  The  milk  is  good,  and  yields  more  than  an 
average  proportion  of  cream  and  butter ;  but  generally  it  is  defi- 
cient in  quantity.  There  are  those,  howevei-,  and  no  mean  judges, 
■who  deny  this,  and  select  the  Devons  even  for  the  dairy. 

Such  is  not,  however,  the  common  opinion.  They  are  kept 
principally  for  their  other  good  qualities,  in  order  to  preserve  the 
breed  ;  and  because,  as  nurses,  they  are  indeed  excellent,  and  the 
calves  thrive  from  their  small  quantity  of  milk  more  rapidly  than 
could  possibly  be  expected. 

This  aboriginal  breed  of  British  cattle  is  a  very  valuable  one, 
and  seems  to  have  arrived  at  the  highest  point  of  perfection.  It 
is  heavier  than  it  was  thirt'    years  ago,  yet  fully  as    active.      It« 


U  CATTLE. 


aptitude  to  fatten  is  increased,  and  its  property  as  a  milker  might 
be  improved,  without  detriment  to  its  grazing  qualities. 

Those  points  in  wliicli  the  Devons  were  deficient  thirty  years  ago, 
are  now  fully  supplied,  and  all  tliat  is  now  wanting,  is  a  judicious 
selection  of  the  most  perfeci  of  the  present  breed,  in  order  to  pre- 
serve it  in  its  state  of  greatest  purity.  Many  of  tiie  breeders  are  as 
careless  as  they  ever  were  ;  but  the  spirit  of  emulation  is  excited  in 
others.  Mr.  Davy,  of  North  Molton,  lately  sold  a  four-year  old  bull, 
for  which  the  purchaser  had  determined  to  give  one  hundred  guineas 
had  it  been  asked. 

The  J3evon  cattle  are  more  than  usuall}^  free  from  disease.  The 
greater  part  of  the  maladies  of  cattle,  and  all  those  of  the  respira- 
tory system,  aie  owing  to  injudicious  exposure  to  cold  and  wet;  the 
heiorht  and  thiclness  of  the  Devonshire  fences,  as  affordinsr  a  com- 
fortable  shelter  to  the  cattle,  may  have  much  to  do  with  this  exemp- 
tion from  disease. 

The  Devons  have  been  crossed  with  the  Guernsey  breed,  and  the  con- 
sequence has  been,  that  they  have  been  rendered  more  valuable  for  the 
daily  ;  but  they  ha\  e  been  so  much  injured  for  the  plough,  and  for 
the  grazier,  tliat  the  breeders  are  jealous  to  preserve  the  old  stock  in 
their  native  purity. 

The  treatment  of  the  calf  is  nearly  the  same  in  every  district  of 
North  Devon.  The  calves  that  are  dropped  at  Michaelmas,  and 
some  time  afterward,  are  preferred  to  those  that  come  in  February, 
notwithstanding  the  additional  troul;le  and  expense  during  the  winter. 
The  calf  is  permitted  to  suck  three  times  every  day  for  a  week.  It 
is  then  used  to  the  fingei*,  and  warm  new  milk  is  given  it  for  three 
weeks  lonoer.  For  two  months  afterward  it  has  plenty  of  warm 
scalded  milk,  mixed  with  a  little  finely-powdered  linseed-cake.  Its 
morning  and  evening  meals  are  then  gradually  lessened  ;  and,  when 
it  is  four  months  old,  it  is  quite  weaned. 

Of  the  other  districts  of  Devonshire  little  need  be  said.  Toward 
the  south,  extending  from  Hartland  towards  Tiverton,  the  Devons 
prevail,  and  in  their  greatest  state  of  purity.  There  are  more  dairies 
than  in  the  north,  and  supplied  principally  b}"-  the  Devon  cows. 
Such  are  the  differences  of  opinion  even  in  neighboring  districts,  that 
the  later  calves  are  here  uniformly  prefeiTed,  which  are  longer  suckled, 
and  afterward  fed  with  milk  and  linseed-meal. 

Advancing  more  to  the  south,  and  toward  the  borders  of  Corn- 
wall, a  different  breed  presents  itself,  heavier  and  coarser.  We  have 
arrived  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  Devonpoi  t,  where  larger  cattle 
are  required  for  the  service  of  the  navy  ;  but  we  must  go  a  little  more 
to  the  south,  and  enter  on  the  tract  of  country  which  extends  from 
Tavistock  to  Newton  Abbott,  before  we  have  the  South  Devons  in 
full  peifection.  They  are  a  mixture  of  the  Devons  with  the  native 
breed  of  the  country  ;  and  so  adapted  do   they  seem  to  be  to  the 


THE  DEVONS. 


uoW,  that  all  attempts  to  improve  them,  so  far  as  grazing  and  fatten- 
ing go,  have  utterly  failed.  They  are  often  14  cwt.  to  the  four 
quarters  ;  and  steers  of  2|  cwt.  are  got  with  fair  hay  and  grass  to 
weigh  from  six  to  nine  cwt.  They  bear  considerable  resemblance  to 
the  Herefords,  and  sometimes  the  color,  and  the  horn,  and  the  white 
face,  are  so  much  aUke  in  both,  that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish 
between  them,  except  that  they  are  usually  smaller  than  the  Herefords. 

There  are  few  parts  of  the  country  in  which  there  is  such  bad 
management,  and  utter  neglect  of  the  preservation  of  the  breed,  as  in 
this  and  the  most  eastern  part  of  Devon.  It  is  not  properly  a  grazing 
district,  except  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tavistock ;  but  young  cattle 
are  rather  brought  forward  for  after-grass  or  turnips  elsewhere  than 
finished  here  for  the  market,  and  the  method  in  which  this  is  con- 
ducted is  not  to  be  commended.  If  a  calf  look  likely  to  fatten,  it  is 
suflfered  to  run  with  the  cow  ten  or  twelve  months,  and  then  slaugh- 
tered. If  others,  that  had  not  before  shown  a  disposition  to  thrive, 
now  start,  they  are  forwarded  as  quickly  as  may  be,  and  disposed 
of ;  and  therefore  it  is  that  all  those  that  are  retained,  and  by  which 
the  stock  is  to  be  kept  up,  are  the  very  refuse  of  the  farm.  Yet 
the  breed  is  not  materially  deteriorated.  It  has  found  a  congenial 
climate,  and  it  will  flourish  there  in  spite  of  neglect  and  injury.  Th6 
grand  secret  of  breeding  is  to  suit  the  breed  to  the  soil  and  climate. 
It  is  because  this  has  not  been  studied,  that  those  breeds,  which 
have  been  invaluable  in  certain  districts,  have  proved  altogether 
profitless  and  unworthy  of  culture  in  others.  The  South  Devons 
are  equally  profitable  for  the  grazier,  the  breeder,  and  the  butcher ; 
but  their  flesh  is  not  so  dehcate  as  that  of  the  Devons.  They  do  for 
the  consumption  of  the  navy ;  they  will  not  suit  fastidious  appetites. 

The  farmers  in  the  neigborhood  of  Dartmoor  breed  veiy  few  cat- 
tle. Their  calves  are  usually  procured  from  East  Devon,  or  even 
from  Somerset  or  Dorset.  They  are  reared  at  the  foot  of  the  moors 
for  the  use  of  the  miners.  All,  however,  are  not  consumed  ;  but  the 
steers  are  sold  to  the  farmers  of  the  South  Hams,  who  work  them  as 
long  as  they  are  serviceable  ;  they  are  then  transferred  to  the  graziers 
from  Somersetshire,  or  East  Devon,  or  Dorset,  by  whom  they  are 
probably  driven  back  to  their  native  country,  and  prepared  for  the 
market  of  Bristol  or  London.  A  very  curious  peregrination  this, 
which  great  numbers  of  the  west-country  cattle  experience. 

As  we  now  travel  eastward,  we  begin  to  lose  all  distinctness  of 
breed.  The  vale  of  Exeter  is  a  dairy  district,  and,  as  such,  contains 
all  kinds  of  cattle,  according  to  the  fancy  of  the  farmer.  There  are 
a  few  pure  Devons,  more  South  Devons,  and  some  Aldemeys ;  but 
the  majority  are  mongrels  of  every  description  :  many  of  them,  how- 
ever, are  excellent  cows,  and  such  as  are  found  scattered  over  Corn- 
wall, West  Devonshire,  Somerset,  and  part  of  Dorset. 

As  we  advance  along  the  south  and  the  east,  to  Teignmouth,  Ex- 
2 


CATTLE. 


mouth,  Sidraouth,  and  over  the  hill  to  the  fruitful  vale  of  Iloniton. 
we  do  not  find  oxen  so  much  used  in  husbandry.  The  soil  is  either 
a  cold  hard  clay,  or  its  flints  would  speedily  destroy  the  feet  of  the 
oxen.  The  same  variety  of  pure  Devons  and  South  Devons,  and 
natives  of  that  particular  district,  with  intermixtures  of  every  breed, 
prevail,  but  the  South  Devons  are  principally  seen.  Some  of  these 
cows  seem  to  unite  the  opposite  qualities  of  fattening  and  milkinsf. 
A  South  Devon  has  been  known,  soon  after  calving,  to  yield  more 
than  two  pounds  of  butter  a  day ;  and  many  of  the  old  southern 
native  breed  are  equal  to  any  short  horns  in  the  quantity  of  their 
milk,  and  far  superior  to  them  in  its  quality. 

The  Devon  cattle  prevail  along  that  part  of  the  county  of  Somer- 
set which  borders  on  Devon,  until  we  arrive  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Wincaunton  and  Ilchester,  where  the  pure  breed  is  almost  lost  sight 
of.  In  the  north  of  Somerset,  few  of  the  Devons  are  to  be  seen  ; 
but  along  the  coast,  and  even  extending  as  far  as  Bristol  and  Bath, 
the  purest  breed  of  the  Devons  is  preferred.  They  are  valued  for 
their  aptitude  to  fatten,  their  quickness  and  honesty  at  work ;  and 
they  are  said  to  be  better  milkers  than  in  their  native  county.  They 
are  of  a  larger  size,  for  the  soil  is  better,  and  the  pasturage  more 
luxuriant.  It  is  on  this  account  that  the  oxen  bred  in  some  parts, 
and  particularly  in  the  Yale  of  Taunton,  although  essentially  Devons, 
are  preferred  to  those  from  the  greater  part  of  Devonshire,  and  even 
from  the  neighborhood  of  Barnstaple  and  South  Molton.  They  are 
better  for  the  grazier  and  for  the  dairy ;  and,  if  they  are  not  quite 
BO  active  as  their  progenitors,  they  have  not  lost  their  docility  and 
freeness  at  work,  and  they  have  gained  materially  in  strenf^th. 

The  farmers  in  the  south  and  south-west  of  Somerset  are  endeavor- 
ing to  breed  that  sort  of  cattle  that  Avill  answer  for  the  pail,  and  the 
plough,  and  grazing — a  very  difficult  point ;  for  tliose  that  ai-e  of 
the  higltest  proof  (exhibiting  those  points  or  conformations  of  par- 
ticular parts  w^hich  usually  indicate  a  propensity  to  ffitten)  are  gene- 
rally the  w^orst  milkers,  both  as  to  quantity  and  quality.  This  being, 
however,  a  dairy  county,  as  well  as  a  grazing  one,  or  more  so,  the 
principal  point  with  them  is  a  good  show  for  milk.  They  are,  for 
the  most  part,  of  the  Devon  red,  and  the  best  suited  for  all  purposes 
of  any  in  the  West  of  England.  All  that  is  necessary  to  keep  them 
up  in  size  and  proof,  and  of  a  good  growth,  is  to  change  the  bull 
every  two  years.  This  is  a  very  important,  although  an  overlooked 
and  unappreciated  principle  of  breeding,  even  where  the  stock  is 
most  select.  No  bull  should  be  longer  used  by  the  same  grazier,  or 
some  degree  of  deterioration  will  ensue. 

It  must,  nevertheless,  be  confessed,  that  in  the  greater  part  of  the 
county,  and  where  the  Devons  are  liked  best  foi  husbandry  and  for 
grazing,  experience  has  taught  many  farmers  to  select  another  breed 
f<y  the  dairy. 


THE    DEVONS. 


27 


Our  cuts  of  the  tAvo  Devon  bulls  given,  are  portraits  of  animals  of 
distinction  ;  the  first  characterized  by  great  substance,  and  the 
second  by  eminent  fineness  and  style;  and  both  are  wanting  in 
nothing  essential  to  the  Devon  bull,  while  they  are  both  marked  bv 
great  excellence. 


DEVON     BULL. 


While  our  vicAvs  regard  the  general  breeding  of  Devons,  as  seen 
in  the  practice  of  the  mass  of  breeders  in  Devonshire,  it  is  yet  proper 
to  say  that  there  are  some  few  breeders  who  have  carried  their  cattle 
forward  to  a  degree  of  excellence  that  would  seem  incapable  of 
further  advancement ;  and  which  is  now  so  high  that  we  may  perhaps 
call  it  perfection.  In  point  of  working  form  they  are  not  deteriorated, 
and  yet  they  have  all  the  maturity  of  the  short  horn,  and  are  equal 
to  any  breed  in  the  abundance  of  meat  on  the  prime  parts,  and  in  the 
high  quality  of  that  meat,  it  being  marbled  and  sparkling  in  the 
highest  degree. 

The  leading  breeders  are  Mr.  James  Quartly,  of  Champson  Mol- 
land,  and  his  brother,  Mr.  John  Quartly,  of  MoUand  ;  Mr.  Richard 
Merson,  of  Brinsworthy ;  and  Mr.  James  Davy,  of  Flitton  Barton,  all 
in  Devonshire.  Mr.  James  Quartly  has  been,  more  than  any  other 
breeder,  distinguished  as  a  winner  of  prizes  at  the  shows  of  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  and  the  other  gentlemen 
named  have  been  successful  often  at  these  shows,  though  as  the 


2S  .        CATTLE. 


breeders  of  the  animals  shown,  more  than  as  the  exhibitors.  Indeed, 
Mr.  Merson  has  himself  never  shown,  and  yet  has  bred  several  ani 
mals  that  have  won  in  the  hands  of  others. 

The  Messrs.  Quartl^'s,  the  inheritors  of  an  ancient  stock,  suc- 
ceeded to  the  herds  of  tlieir  father,  the  late  Mr.  Quartly,  and  their 
uncle,  the  present  Mr.  Francis  Quartly,  who,  from  age,  has  declined 
further  breeding.  Fi-om  their  predecessors  they  have  obtained  both 
reputation  and  excellence  in  their  cattle,  and  they  are  more  than 
maintaining  the  high  character  derived  from  their  father  and  uncle.* 

Mr.  Merson,  also,  succeeded  his  father  as  a  breeder,  and,  like  his 
father,  ranks  at  the  top  of  the  profession.  His  cattle  are  remarkable 
for  an  abundance  of  fine  meat  on  the  choice  parts,  great  evenness, 
very  early  maturity,  and  milking  quality  unsurpassed  by  any  Devons  ; 
and  indeed  their  milking  capacity,  as  a  herd,  is  extraordinary,  many 
of  his  cows  equaling  the  short  horns  in  quantity,  wdiile  the  milk 
still  preserves  the  known  superior  richness  of  the  Devon  race. 

Mr.  Davy  likewise  inherits  both  the  herd  and  the  reputation  of 
his  father,  a  distinguished  breeder,  and  his  aim  has  been,  like  Mr. 
Merson's,  to  have  animals  not  only  of  great  excellence  of  carcass,  but 
of  superior  milking  capacity. 

Mr.  George  Turner,  of  Barton,  near  Exeter,  in  Devonshire,  has  in 
the  last  few  years  entered  the  field  of  competition  with  these  ancient 
breeders,  and,  deriving  his  cattle  from  them,  is  breeding  with  dis- 
tinction. 

Of  late  years,  Devon  bullocks  have  appeared  in  the  Smithfield 
Club  shows,  and,  when  the  numbers  exhibited  are  considered,  have 
been  far  more  successful  than  any  other  breed.  At  a  recent  show 
of  the  Club,  there  were  only  thirteen  Devons  shown,  and  three 
won  prizes,  and  that,  too,  in  a  competition  with  one  hundred  and 
seven  beasts,  which  were  mainly  short  horns  and  Herefords.  Two 
of  these  were  exhibited  by  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  one  w^as  good 
enough  to  carry  off  the  Gold  Medal,  as  the  best  ox  in  the  yard. 
The  Earl  of  Leicester,  and  his  father  before  him,  and  their  tenant, 
Mr.  Bloomfield,  all  of  Norfolk,  are  well  known  breeders  of  Devons. 
They  have  derived  much  of  their  late  blood  from  the  Messrs.  Quartlys, 
Mr.  Merson,  and  Mr.  Davy. 

*  Jt  may  be  meutionod  thai  animals  bred  by  Messrs.  James  and  John  Quartly,  won 
every  prize  for  Devons  save  one,  at  the  last  show  of  the  English  Agricultural  .Society 
at  Exeter,  in  Devonshire,  July,  1850,  and  this  was  by  far  the  best  and  most  numeroui 
■how  of  Devons  ever  made.— Ji  ditor.  ., 


THE  I'lEREFORDS. 


THE  HEREFORDS. 

The  Hereford  wliite-foced  breed,  witli  the  exception  of  a  very  few 
Alderney  and  Durham  cows,  liave  almost  exclusive  possession  of  the 
county  of  Hereford.  The  Hereford  oxen  are  considerably  larger  than 
the  Devons.  They  are  usiially  of  a  darker  red  ;  some  of  them  are 
brown,  and  even  yellow,  and  a  few  are  brindled  ;  but  they  are  prin- 
tipally  distinguished  by  their  white  faces,  throats,  and  bellies.  In  a 
few  the  white  extends  to  the  shoulders.  The  old  Herefords  were 
brown,  or  red-brown,  with  not  a  spot  of  white  about  them.  It  is 
only  within  the  last  fifty  or  sixty  years  that  it  has  been  the  fashion 
to  breed  for  white  faces.  Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  change 
of  color,  the  present  breed  is  certainly  far  superior  to  the  old  one. 
Tlie  hide  is  considerably  thicker  than  that  of  the  Devon.  Compared 
with  the  Devons,  they  are  shorter  in  the  leg,  and  also  in  the  carcass; 
higher,  and  broader,  and  heavier  in  the  chine  ;  rounder  and  wider 
across  the  hips,  and  better  covered  with  fat ;  the  thigh  fuller  and 
more  muscular,  and  the  shoulders  larger  and  coarser. 

Mr.  Marshall  gives  the  following  account  of  them  :  it  is  tolerably 
correct,  but  does  not  sufficiently  distinguish  them  from  their  kindred 
breed.  "  The  countenance  pleasant,  cheerful,  open  ;  the  forehead 
broad ;  eye  full  and  lively  ;  horns  bright,  taper,  and  spreading ; 
head  small ;  chap  lean  ;  neck  long  and  tapering  ;  chest  deep  ;  bosom 
broad,  and  projecting  forward  ;  shoulder-bone  thin,  flat,  no  way  pro- 
tuberant in  bone,  but  full  and  mellow  in  flesh  ;  chest  fidl ;  loin 
broad  ;  hips  standing  wide,  and  level  with  the  chine ;  quarters  long, 
and  wide  at  the  neck  ;  rump  even  with  the  level  of  the  back,  and 
not  drooping,  nor  standing  high  and  sharp  above  the  quarters ;  tail 
slender  and  neatly  haired  ;  barrel  round  and  roomy ;  the  carcass 
throughout  deep  and  well  spread  ;  ribs  broad,  standing  flat  and 
close  on  the  outer  surface,  forming  a  smooth,  even  barrel,  the  hind- 
most large  and  full  of  length  ;  round  bone  small,  snug,  not  promi- 
nent ;  thigh  clean,  and  regularly  tapering  ;  legs  upright  and  short ; 
bone  below  the  knee  and  hock  small  ;  feet  of  middle  size  ;  flank 
large  ;  flesh  everywhere  mellow,  soft,  and  yielding  pleasantly  to  the 
touch,  especially  on  the  chine,  the  shoulder,  and  the  ribs ;  hide  mel- 
low, supple,  of  a  middle  thickness,  and  loose  on  the  neck  and  huckle ; 
coat  neatly  haired,  bright  and  silky  ;  color,  a  middle  red,  with  a  bald 
face,  characteristic  of  the  true  Hereford  breed." 

They  fatten  to  a  much  greater  weight  than  the  Devons,  and  run 
from  fifty  to  seventy  score.  (A  tolerable  cow  will  average  from 
thirty-five  to  fifty  score.)  They  are  not  now  much  used  for  husbandry, 
though  their  form  adapts  them  for  the  heavier  work ;  and  they  have 
all  thp.  honesty  and  docility  of  the  Devon  ox,  and  greater  strength. 


a) 


CATTLE. 


if  not  his  activity.  The  Hereford  ox  fattens  speedily  at  an  early  age, 
and  it  is  more  advantageous  to  the  farmer,  and  perhaps  to  the  coun- 
try, that  he  should  go  to  market  a  three  years  old,  than  to  be  kept 
longer  to  be  employed  as  a  beast  of  drauglit. 

They  are  far  worse  milkers  than  tlie  Devons.  This  is  so  generally 
aknowledged,  that  while  there  are  many  dairies  of  Devon  cows  in 
various  parts  of  the  country,  (none  of  which,  however,  are  very 
profitable  to  their  owners,)  a  dairy  of  Herefords  is  rarely  to  be 
found. 


R.S&lLBEKt 


HEREFORD    "WORKING    OX. 

To  compensate  for  this,  they  are  kindly  feeders.  Their  beef  may 
be  objected  to  by  some  as  being  occasionally  a  little  too  large  in  the 
bone,  and  the  forequarters  being  coarse  and  heavy ;  but  the  meat  of 
the  best  pieces  is  often  very  fine  grained  and  beautifully  marbled. 
There  are  few  cattle  more  prized  in  the  market  than  the  genuine 
Herefords. 

The  Devons  and  the  Herefords  are  both  excellent  breeds,  and  the 
prejudices  of  the  Devonshire  and  Herefordshire  farmers  for  their 
peculiar  breed  being  set  aside,  a  cross  for  the  yoke  or  beef  of  the  one 
will  often  materially  improve  the  other.  The  Devon  w^ill  acquire 
bulk,  and  the  Hereford  a  finer  form  and  activity. 

The  Herefords  are  evidently  an  aboriginal  breed,  and  descended 
from  the  same  stock  as  the  Devons.      If  it  were  not  for  the  white 


THE  IIEREFORDS. 


31 


face,  and  somewhat  larger  head  and  thicker  neck,  it  would  not  at  all 
times  be  easy  to  distinguish  between  a  heavy  Devon  and  a  light 
Hereford.  Their  white  faces  may  probably  be  traced  to  a  cross  with 
their  not  distant  relations,  the  Montgomeries. 

The  Hereford  cow  is  apparently  a  very  inferior  animal.  Not  only 
is  she  no  milker,  but  even  her  form  has  been  sacrificed  by  the 
breeder.  Herefordshire  is  more  a  rearing  than  a  feeding  county, 
and  therefore  the  farmer  looks  mostly  to  the  shape  and  value  of 
his  young  stock ;  and,  in  the  choice  of  his  cow,  he  does  not  value 
her,  or  select  her,  or  breed  from  her  according  to  her  milk-ing 
qualities,  or  the  price  which  the  grazier  would  give  for  her,  but 
in  proportion  as  she  possesses  that  general  form  which  experience 
has  taught  him  will  render  her  likely  to  produce  a  go©d  ox. 
Hence  the  Hereford  cow  is  comparatively  small  and  delicate,  and 
some  would  call  her  ill-made.  She  is  very  light-fleshed  when  in 
common  condition,  and  beyond  that,  while  she  is  breeding,  she  is 
not  suffered  to  proceed ;  but  when  she  is  actually  put  up  for  fatten- 
ing, she  spreads  out,  and  accumulates  fat  at  a  most  extraordinary 
rate. 


HEREFORD   FEEDING   OX. 


The  breeder  has  been  taught  by  experience,  that  when  the 
cow,  although  she  should  be  somewhat  roomy^  is  too  large  and 
ma^:culine,  the  ox  will  be  brawny  and  coarse,  and  perhaps  a  little 


so. 


BATTLE. 


sluggish  at  work,  and  even  somewhat  unkind  and  slow  in  the 
process  of  fattening,  and  these  are  objections  which,  most  of  aH, 
he  would  be  unwilling  to  have  justly  made.  The  Hereford  cow 
is  therefore  somewhat  undersized ;  and  it  not  unfrequently  hap- 
pens that  she  produces  a  bull-calf  that  grows  to  three  times  her 
own  weight. 


t^  f  HSE.  SO 


HEREFORD    COW. 


Kindly  as  the  Hereford  ox  fattens,  very  few  are  grazed  in  their 
native  country :  even  the  beasts  which  the  home  consumption  requires 
are  principally  heifers  and  old  cows.  The  oxen  are  sold  at  five  and 
six  years  old,  in  tolerable  condition,  at  the  Michaelmas  fair  in  Here- 
ford, to  the  graziers  of  Buckinghamshire  and  tlie  neighborhoring 
counties,  by  whom  they  are  principally  preferred  for  the  Londoa 
market. 

The  fertility  of  the  soil  in  Herefordshire  has  been  very  mucli  over- 
rated. The  traveler,  and  the  superficial  observer  have  been  misled 
by  the  luxuriant  woods  and  rich  alluvial  soil  upon  the  banks  of  its 
rivers.  The  pasture-grounds  are  generally  poor,  and  the  herbnge  is  not 
nutritious,  and  therefore  the  farmer  naturally  confines  his  chief  atten- 
tion to  his  rearing-stock.  The  dairy  has  been  comparatively  neglected  ; 
for  experience  has  proved  that  the  breeding  qualities  of  a  cow  are 
materially  lessened,  and  even  her  form  is  deteriorated,  by  her  being 
inchned  to  give  a  large  quantity  of  milk. 


SUSSEX    BREED. 


THE  SUSSEX  OX. 
THE  SUSSEX  CATTLE. 

Some  of  the  ancient  Britons  sought  refuge  from  the  attacks  of 
their  invaders,  amid  the  fastnesses  of  the  Weald  of  East  Sussex. 
Thither  they  drove,  or  there  they  found,  some  of  the  native  cattle  of 
the  country  ;  and,  they  anxiously  preserved  them  free  from  all  admix- 
ture. 

The  resemblance  betv^^een  the  Sussex  and  the  Devon  oxen  is  very 
great.     They  unquestionably  betray  the  same  origin. 

The  Sussex  ox  has  a  small  and  well  formed  head,  compared  with 
many  other  breeds,  and  even  with  the  Hereford,  but  evidently  coarser 
than  that  of  the  Devon  ;  the  horns  pushing  forward  a  httle,  and 
then  turning  upward,  thin,  tapering  and  long — not  so  as  to  confound 
this  breed  with  the  long  horns.  The  eye  is  full,  large  and  mild  in 
the  ox  ;  but  with  some  degree  of  unquietness  in  the  cow.  The 
throat  clean,  and  the  neck,  compared  with  either  the  long  horns  or 
the  short  ones,  long  and  thin,  yet  evidently  coarser  than  that  of  the 
Devon. 

At  the  shoulder  is  the  main  difference,  and  the  principal  defect  in 
the  Sussex  cattle.  There  is  more  wideness  and  roundness  on  the 
withers — it  is  a  straighter  line  from  the  summit  of  the  withers  toward 
the  back — there  is  no  projecting  point  of  the  shoulder  when  the  ani- 
mal is  looked  at  from  behind,  but  the  whole  of  the  fore-quarter  is 
thickly  covered  with  flesh,  giving  too  much  weight  to  the  coarser 
and  less  profitable  parts.     This  is  counterbalanced  by  many  admira- 


34  CATTLE. 


ble  points.  If  there  is  more  weight  in  front,  the  fore  legs  are  neces- 
sarily wider  apart,  straighter,  and  more  perpendicular  than  in  the 
Devon  ;  they  are  placed  more  mider  the  body  rather  than  seeming 
to  be  attached  to  the  sides.  The  fore-arm  is  large  and  muscular,  but 
the  legs,  although  coarser  tlian  those  of  the  Devon,  are  small  and 
fine  downwards,  and  particularly  below  the  fetlock.  The  barrel  is 
round  and  deep — the  back  straight — no  rising  spinal  processes  are 
to  be  seen,  but  rather  a  central  depression  ;  and  the  line  of  tlie  back, 
if  broken,  is  only  done  so  by  a  lump  of  fat  rising  between  the  hips. 
The  belly  and  flank  are  capacious — there  is  room  before  for  the 
heart  and  lungs  to  prepare  and  circulate  the  blood,  and  there  is  room 
behind,  in  the  capacious  belly,  for  the  full  development  of  all  the 
organs  of  digestion ;  yet  the  beast  is  well  ribbed  home,  the  space 
between  the  last  rib  and  the  hip-bone  is  often  very  small,  and 
there  is  no  hanging  heaviness  of  the  belly  or  flank.  The  loins  of 
the  Sussex  ox  are  wide ;  the  hip-bone  does  not  rise  high,  nor  is  it 
ragged  extertmlly  ;  but  it  is  large  and  spread  out,  and  the  space 
between  the  hips  is  well  filled  up. 

The  tail,  which  is  fine  and  thin,  is  set  on  lower  than  in  the  Devon, 
yet  the  rump  is  nearly  as  straight,  for  the  deficiency  is  supplied  by  a 
mass  of  flesh  and  fat  swelling  above.  The  hind  quarters  are  cleanly 
made,  and  if  the  thighs  appear  to  be  straight  without,  there  is  plenty 
of  fulness  within. 

The  Sussex  ox  holds  an  intermediate  place  between  the  Devon  and 
Hereford,  with  much  of  the  activity  of  the  first,  and  the  strength 
of  the  second,  and  the  propensity  to  fatten,  and  the  beautiful,  fine 
grained  flesh  of  both.  Experience  has  shown  that  it  possesses  as 
many  of  the  good  quahties  of  both  as  can  be  combined  in  one 
frame. 

The  Sussex  ox  is  of  a  deep  chestnut-red — some,  however,  pre- 
fer a  blood- bay :  deviation  from  this  color  indicates  some  stain  in 
the  breed. 

The  hide  of  the  true  Sussex  is  soft  and  mellov/  ;  a  coarse,  harsh, 
thick  hide  denotes  here,  as  in  every  other  district,  an  ill-bred  or 
an  unthrifty  beast.  The  coat  is  short  and  sleek.  There  is  seldom 
found  on  the  Sussex  ox  that  profusion  of  soft  and  wavy,  and,  occa- 
sionally, long  hair,  which,  although  it  may  have  the  appearance  of 
rouo'hness,  is  consistent  with  a  mellow  and  vieldinoj  hide,  and  one  of 
the  truest  indications  of  more  than  usual  propensity  to  fatten. 

The  Sussex  cow,  hke  the  Hereford  one,  is  very  inferior  to  the  ox ; 
she  seems  to  be  almost  another  kind  of  animal.  The  breeder  has 
endeavored,  but  with  comparatively  little  success,  to  give  to  the 
heifer  the  same  points  that  the  ox  possesses. 

The  Sussex  cow  ought  to  have  a  deep  red  color,  the  hair  fine,  and 
the  skin  mellow,  thin  and  soft ;  a  small  head,  a  fine  horn,  thin  clean 
and  transparent,  which  should  run  out  horizontally,  and  afterwards 


SUSSEX  BkZED. 


turn  up  at  the  tips  ;  the  neck  very  thin  and  clean  made ;  a  small  leg ; 
a  straight  top  and  bottom,  with  round  and  springing  ribs  ;. thick 
chine  ;  loin,  hips,  and  rump  wide  ;  shoulder  flat — but  the  projection 
of  the  point  of  the  shoulder  is  not  liked,  as  the  cattle  subject  to  this 
defect  are  usually  coarse  ;  the  legs  should  be  rather  short ;  carcass 
large  ;  the  tail  should  be  level  with  the  rump. 


"'''"^^imm&S3ii>^=im^<^^^ 


THE    SUSSEX    COW. 


The  Sussex  cow  does  not  answer  for  the  dairy.  Although  her 
milk  is  of  very  good  quahty,  it  is  so  inferior  in  quantity  to  that  of 
the  Holderness  or  the  Suffolk,  that  she  is  Httle  regarded  for  the 
making  of  butter  or  cheese. 

There  is  one  great  fault  about  the  Sussex  cows,  seemingly  incon- 
sistent with  their  propensity  to  fatten,  and  which  cannot  be  remedied. 
Their  countenance  indicates  an  unquiet  temper ;  and  they  are  often 
restless  and  dissatisfied,  prowling  about  the  hedge-rows,  and  en- 
deavoring to  break  pasture,  and  especially  if  they  are  taken  from  the 
farm  on  which  they  were  bred. 

They  are  principally  kept  as  breeders,  all  the  use  being  made  of 
them  at  the  same  time  as  dairy  cows  of  which  circumstances  will 
admit.  And  it  cannot  be  denied  that  they  are  generally  in  fair  con- 
dition, even  while  they  are  milking  ;  and  that  no  beasts,  except  their 
kindred,  the  Devons  and  the  Herefords,  will  thrive  so  speedily  after 
they  are  dried.  The  secretion  of  milk  being  stopped,  the  Sussex 
cow  will  fatten  even  quicker  than  the  ox.  It  must,  however,  be  ac- 
knowledged that  the  Sussex  cows  are  not  perfect,  even  as  breeders ; 


CATTLE. 


and  that,  unless  a  great  deal  of  care  is  taken  that  the  cow  shall  not 
be  in  too  good  condition  at  the  time  of  calving,  she  is  subject  to 
puerperal  fever,  or  "  drooping  ;"  while  many  a  calf  is  lost  from  the 
too  stimulating  quality  of  her  milk. 


WALES. 


To  the  Principality  we  naturally  look  for  some  trace  of  the 
native  breed  of  cattle,  for  the  Welsh  were  never  entirely  subdued 
by  any  of  the  early  invaders.  The  Romans  possessed  merely  a  por- 
tion of  that  country  ;  the  Saxons  scarcely  penetrated  at  all  into 
Wales,  or  not  beyond  the  county  of  Monmouth ;  the  Welsh  long  re- 
sisted the  superior  power  of  the  English  under  the  Xorman  kings  ; 
and  it  was  not  until  late  in  the  thirteenth  century  that  the  Principali- 
ty was  annexed  to  the  crown  of  England.  We  therefore  expect  to 
find  more  decided  specimens  of  the  native  productions  of  our  island : 
nor  are  we  altogether  disappointed. 

The  principal  and  the  most  valuable  portion  of  the  cattle  of  Wales 
are  the  middle  horns.  They  are,  indeed,  stunted  in  their  growth, 
from  the  scanty  food  which  their  mountains  yield,  but  they  beai 
about  them,  in  miniature,  many  of  the  points  of  the  Devon,  Sussex, 
and  Hereford  cattle. 


THE  PEMBROKE  OX. 


GLAMORGANSHIRL  BREED.  37 

THE  PEMBROKE  CATTLE. 

Great  Britain  does  not  afford  a  more  useful  animal  than  the  Pem- 
broke cow  or  ox.  It  is  black ;  the  great  majority  are  entirely  so  ;  a 
few  have  white  faces,  or  a  little  white  about  the  tail,  or  the  udders ; 
and  the  horns  are  white.  The  latter  turn  up  in  a  way  characteris- 
tic of  the  breed,  and  indeed  the  general  form  of  the  cattle  undenia- 
bly betrays  their  early  origin.  They  have  a  peculiarly  lively  look 
and  good  eye.  The  hair  is  rough,  but  short,  and  the  hide  is  not 
thick.  The  bones,  although  not  small,  are  far  from  large  ;  and  the 
Pembroke  cattle  are  very  fair  milkers,  with  a  propensity  to  fatten. 
The  meat  is  generally  beautifully  marbled.  They  thi-ive  in  evei-y 
situation. 


THE    GLAMORGANS. 

The  Glamorganshire  fanners,  of  half  a  century  ago,  took  great 
pride  in  their  cattle,  and  evinced  much  judgment  in  their  breeding 
and  selection.  There  was  one  principle  from  which  they  never 
deviated : — they  admitted  of  no  mixture  of  foreign  blood,  and  they 
produced  the  Glamorgan  ox,  so  much  admired  for  acti^^ty  and 
strength,  and  aptitude  to  fatten ;  and  the  cow,  if  she  did  not  vie 
with  the  best  milkers,  yielded  a  good  remunerating  profit  for  the 
dairyman. 

They  were  of  a  dark  brown  color,  with  white  bellies,  and  a  streak 
of  white  along  the  back  from  the  shoulder  to  the  tail.  They  had 
clean  heads,  tapering  from  the  neck  and  shoulders  ;  long  white 
horns,  turning  upward ;  and  a  lively  countenance.  Their  dewlaps 
were  small,  the  hair  short,  and  the  coat  silky.  If  there  was  any 
fault,  it  was  that  the  rump,  or  setting  on  of  the  tail,  was  too  high 
above  the  level  of  the  back  to  accord  with  the  modern  notions  of 
symmetry.  Their  aptitude  to  fatten  rendered  them  exceedingly  pro- 
fitable Avhen  taken  from  the  plough  at  six  or  seven  years  old,  and 
they  were  brought  to  great  perfection  on  the  rich  English  pastures 
— frequently  weighing  more  than  twenty  scores  per  quarter.  The 
beef  was  beautifully  veined  and  marbled,  the  inside  of  the  animal 
was  well  lined  with  tallow,  and  the  Glamorgans  commanded  the 
highest  price  both  in  the  metropolitan  and  provincial  market.  Among 
the  Glamorgan-vale  browns  good  cow-beef  weighed  from  eight  to 
ten  score  pounds  per  quarter,  although  some  weighed  as  much  as 
twelve  or  thhteen  scores.  Ox-beef  is  from  twelve  to  fourteen  scores 
per  quarter  ;  some,  however,  reached  eighteen  and  even  twenty 
scores. 

During  the  French  revolutionary  war,  the  excessive  price  of  com 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  Glamorganshire  farmers  to  the  increased 


38  CATTLE. 

cultivation  of  it,  and  a  great  proportion  of  the  best  pastures  were 
turned  over  by  the  plough. 

The  natural  consequence  of  inattention  and  starvation  was,  that 
the  breed  greatly  degenerated  in  its  disposition  to  fatten,  and,  cer- 
tainly, with  many  exceptions,  but  yet,  in  their  general  character,  the 
Glamorganshire  cattle  became  and  are  flat-sided,  sharp  in  the  hip- 
joints  and  shoulders,  high  in  the  rump,  too  long  in  the  legs,  with 
thick  skins,  and  a  delicate  constitution.  Therefore,  it  must  be 
acknowledged  at  present,  and  perhaps  it  must  long  continue  to  be 
the  fact,  that  the  Glamorgans,  generally,  are  far  from  being  what 
they  once  were.  They  continue,  however,  to  maintain  their  character 
for  stoutness  and  acti\'ity,  and  are  still  profitably  employed  in  hus- 
bandry work.  The  beef  is  still  good,  marbled,  and  good  tasted  ;  and 
in  proportion  as  the  value  of  the  ox  to  the  grazier  has  decreased,  the 
value  of  the  cow  has  become  enhanced  for  the  dairy.  He  who  is 
accustomed  to  cattle  will  understand  the  meaning  of  this ;  and  the 
kind  of  incompatibihty  between  an  aptitude  to  fatten  in  a  little  time, 
and  on  spare  keep,  and  the  property  of  yielding  a  more  than  average 
quantity  of  milk. 


GLAMORGAX    OX. 


This  is  the  breed  which  is  established  in  the  populous  districts  of 
Glamorgan.  The  Glamorgan  cattle  bear  a  close  resemblance  to  the 
Herefords  in  figure,  although  inferior  to  them  in  size  ;  they  feed  • 


ANGLESEY  BREEa 


kindly — the  flesh  and  fat  are  laid  equally  over  them — the  beef  is 
beautifully  marbled,  and  they  yield  a  more  than  average  quantity  of 
milk.  They  are  fattened  to  perfection  at  five  years  old,  but  not  often 
at  an  earlier  age :  and  will  become  sufficiently  bulky  on  the  good 
pastures  of  the  vale  without  any  artificial  food. 


GLAMORGAN    COW. 

The  cut  is  the  portrait,  and  gives  a  faithful  representation  of  the 
present  improved  breed  of  Glamorgan  dairy-cattle.  The  average 
quantity  of  milk  given  by  the  cow  is" about  sixteen  quarts  per  day. 

Although  we  place  the  cattle  of  North  Wales  as  "  middle-horns,'* 
we  confess  that  we  are  a  little  approaching  to  the  next  division,  *'  the 
long-horns."  There  is,  however,  a  great  deal  of  the  character  of 
"  the  middle-horns  "  about  them,  and  marking  theh  common  origin. 


THE   ANGLESEY   CATTLE. 

The  Anglesey  cattle  are  small  and  black,  with  moderate  bone, 
deep  chest,  rather  too  heavy  shoulders,  enormous  dewlap,  round 
barrel,  high  and  spreading  haunches,  the  face  flat,  the  horns  long, 
and,  characteristic  of  the  breed  with  which  we  will  still  venture  to 
class  them,  almost  invariably  turning  upward.  The  hair  is  apparently 
coarse,  but  the  hide  is  mellow :  they  are  hardy,  easy  to  rear,  and 
v>^ell-disposed  to  fatten  when  transplanted  to  better  pasture  than 
their  native  isle  aff'ords. 


40 


CATTLE. 


^^*=^  PfASE  SC. 


THE    ANGLESEY    OX. 


The  Angleysey  cattle  are  principally  destined  for  grazing.  Great 
numbers  of  them  are  purchased  in  the  midland  counties,  and  pre- 
pared for  metropolitan  consumption  ;  and  not  a  few  find  their  way 
directly  to  the  vicinity  of  London,  in  order  to  be  finished  for  the 
market.  In  point  of  size,  they  hold  an  intermediate  rank  between 
the  English  breeds  of  all  kinds  and  the  smaller  varieties  of  Scotch 
cattle ;  and  so  they  do  in  the  facility  with  which  they  are  brought 
into  condition.  If  they  are  longer  in  preparing  for  the  market,  they 
pay  more  at  last ;  and,  like  the  Scots,  they  thrive  where  an  English 
beast  would  starve. 


THE  WEST  HIGHLANDERS.  41 


SCOTLAND. 

Scotland  contains  several  distinct  and  valuable  breeds  of  cattle, 
evidently  belonging  to  our  present  division,  "  The  Middle  Horns." 

The  West  Highlanders,  whether  we  regard  those  that  are  found 
in  the  Hebrides,  or  the  county  of  Argyle,  seem  to  retain  most  of  the 
aboriginal  character.  They  have  remained  unchanged,  or  improved 
only  by  selection,  for  many  generations ;  indeed  from  the  earliest 
accounts  that  we  possess  of  Scottish  cattle. 

The  North  Highlanders  are  a  smaller,  coarser,  and  in  every 
way  inferior  race,  and  owe  the  greater  part  of  what  is  valuable  about 
them  to  crosses  from  the  Western  breed. 

The  North-Eastern  Cattle  were  derived  from,  and  bear  a 
stong  resemblance  to,  the  West  Highlander,  but  are  of  considerably 
larger  size. 

The  Ayrshire  Breed  are  second  to  none  as  milkers. 

The  Galloways,  which  scarcely  a  century  ago  were  middle- 
horned,  and  with  difficulty  distinguished  from  the  West  Highlanders, 
are  now  a  polled  breed — increased  in  size,  with  more  striking  resem- 
blance to  their  kindred,  the  Devons — with  all  their  aptitude  to  fatten, 
and  with  a  great  hardiness  of  constitution. 

THE    WEST    HIGHLAND    CATTLE. 

The  cattle  of  the  islands  on  the  Western  coast  have  the  honor  of 
being,  or,  at  least,  of  retaining  the  character  of  the  primitive  breed, 
and  whence  are  procured  the  purest  and  best  specimens  to  preserve 
or  to  improve  the  Highland  cattle  in  other  districts. 

Skirting  the  coast,  from  the  promontory  of  Cantire  to  the  northern 
extremity  of  Scotland,  is  a  range  of  islands — the  Hebrides,  about 
half  of  them  inhabited  by  man. 

Little  is  known  of  the  history  of  the  Hebrideans,  except  that  they 
descended  from  the  same  stock  with  the  Irish  and  the  Highlanders ; 
and,  at  no  very  remote  peiiod,  the  inhabitant^  were  singularly  uncul- 
tivated, ignorant,  idle,  and  miserable. 

After  the  union  between  the  Eno-lish  and  Scottish  kino-doms,  and 
when  civilization  had  commenced  on  the  mainland,  the  Hebrideans 
began  to  be  reclaimed,  and  that  was  chiefly  manifested  in,  and  pro- 
moted by,  a  change  of  occupation.  Although  they  did  not  abandon 
their  seafaring  life,  they  began  to  be  agriculturists.  Their  cattle, 
which  had  been  totally  neglected,  and  their  value  altogether  unknown, 
retained  their  primitive  character.  The  Hebrideans  for  the  first  time 
became  aware  of  this,  and  they  bred  them  in  greater  numbers,  and  a 
few  of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  endeavored  to  improve  them  by 
selections  from  the  best  specimens  of  their  native  stock ;  the  result 


42  CATTLE. 

has  been,  that  the  breeds  of  some  of  these  islands  now  bear  the  highest 
price  among  the  Highland  cattle. 


^mmmMxm 


WEST    HIGHLAND    BULL    OF    THE    ISl.ES. 

In  a  group  of  islands,  extending  nearly  two  hundred  miles  from 
north  to  south,  there  will  be  considerable  difference  in  the  character 
and  value  of  the  breed  ;  but  through  the  whole  of  them  the  striking 
peculiarities  of  the  Highland  cattle  are  evident.  The  principal  differ- 
ence is  in  the  size,  and  in  that  the  cattle  of  the  southernmost  island, 
Islay,  claim  the  superiority.  This  island  is  sheltered  by  its  situation 
from  the  storms  to  which  most  of  the  others  are  exposed,  and  the 
pasturage  is  better;  the  cattle  are  earlier  ready  for  the  market,  and 
attain  a  greater  weight.  This  increase?  of  size  would  not  be  of  advan- 
tage on  the  northern  islands,  or  even  on  the  mainland — the  cattle, 
deprived  of  a  portion  of  their  hardihood,  would  not  be  proof  against 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  would  starve  on  such  scanty 
forage  as  the  Highlands  in  general  supply.  Breeders  are  so  much 
aware  of  this,  that  they  endeavor  to  preserve  the  purity  and  value  of 
their  stock,  by  selecting,  not  from  the  districts  vv^here  the  size  has 
increased,  but,  by  almost  general  consent,  from  the  Isle  of  Skye, 
where  the  cattle  are  small,  but  are  suited  to  the  soil  and  to  the  climate  ; 
and  can  he  most  easily  and  securely  raised  at  the  least  expense  ;  and, 
when  removed  to  better  provender,  will  thrive  with  a  ra^ndity  almost 
incredible. 

The  origin  of  the  term  Kyloe  is  obscure,  but  is  said  to  be  a  cor- 


THE    WEST   HIGHLANDERS. 


ruption  of  the  Gaelic  word  which  signifies  highland,  and  is  pronounced 
as  if  spelled  Kael. 

The  Highland  bull,  or  kyloe,  should  be  black,  or  pale  red,  the  head 
small,  tlie  eais  thin,  the  muzzle  fine,  and  rather  turned  up.  He 
should  be  broad  in  the  face,  the  eyes  prominent,  and  the  countenance 
calm  and  placid.  The  horns  should  taper  finely  to  a  point;  and, 
neither  drooping  too  much,  nor  rising  too  high,  should  be  of  a  waxy- 
color,  and  widely  set  on  at  the  root.  The  neck  should  be  fine,  par- 
ticularly where  it  joins  the  head,  and  rising  with  a  gentle  curve  from 
the  shoulder.  The  breast  wide,  and  projecting  well  before  the  legs. 
The  shoulders  broad  at  the  top,  and  the  chine  so  full  as  to  leave  but 
little  hollow  behind  them.  The  girth  behind  the  shoulder  deep  ; 
the  back  straight,  wide,  and  flat ;  the  ribs  broad,  the  space  between 
them  and  the  hips  small ;  the  belly  not  sinking  low  in  the  middle ; 
yet,  on  the  whole,  not  forming  a  round  and  barrel-like  carcass.  The 
thigh  tapering  to  tlie  hock -joint ;  the  bones  larger  in  proportion  to 
the  size  than  in  the  breeds  of  the  southern  districts.  The  tail  set  on 
a  level  with  the  back.  The  legs  short  and  straight.  The  whole  car- 
cass covered  with  a  thick,  long  coat  of  hair,  and  plenty  of  hair  also 
about  the  face  and  horns,  and  that  hair  not  curly. 

The  value  of  the  West  Highland  cattle  consists  in  their  being 
hardy,  and  easily  fed  ;  in  that  they  will  live,  and  sometimes  thrive, 
on  the  coarsest  pastures  ;  that  they  will  frequently  gain  from  a  fourth 
to  a  third  of  their  oi  iginal  weight  in  six  months'  good  feeding ;  that 
the  proportion  of  oftal  is  not  greater  than  in  the  most  improved 
larger  breeds ;  that  they  will  lay  their  flesh  and  fat  equably  on  the 
best  parts ;  and  that,  when  fat,  the  beef  is  close  and  fine  in  the 
grain,  highly  flavored,  and  so  well  mixed  or  marbled,  that  it  com- 
mands a  superior  price  in  every  market. 

Forty  years  ago,  the  treatment  of  cattle  was,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, absurd  and  ruinous,  to  a  strange  degree,  through  the  whole  of 
the  Hebrides.  With  the  exception  of  the  milch  cows,  but  not  even 
of  the  calves,  they  were  all  wintered  in  the  field  :  if  they  were  scantily 
fed  with  hay,  it  was  coarse,  and  withered,  and  half-rotten ;  or  if  they 
got  a  little  straw,  they  were  thought  to  be  well  taken  care  of.  The 
majority  got  httle  more  than  sea-weed,  heather,  and  nishes.  One- 
fifth  of  the  cattle,  on  an  average,  used  to  perish  every  winter  from 
starvation.  When  the  cold  had  been  unusually  severe,  and  the  snow 
had  lain  long  on  the  ground,  one-half  of  the  stock  has  been  lost,  and 
the  remainder  have  afterward  been  thinned  by  the  diseases  which 
poverty  had  engendered. 

It  proved  the  excellency  of  the  breed,  that,  in  the  course  of  two 
or  three  months,  so  many  of  them  got  again  into  good  store-condi- 
tion, and  might  almost  be  said  to  be  half-fat,  and  could  scarcely  be 
restrained  by  any  fence  :  in  fact,  there  are  numerous  instances  of 
these  cattle,  which  had  been  reduced  to  the  most  dreadful  state  of 


44  CATTLE. 


impoverishment,  becoming  fattened  for  the  butcher  in  a  few  months, 
after  being  placed  on  some  of  the  rich  summer  pastures  of  Islay, 
Lewis,  or  Siiye. 

The  cows  were  housed  during  the  winter  ;  the  htier  was  never 
removed  from  them,  but  fresh  layers  of  straw  were  occasionally  laid 
down,  and  so  the  floor  rose  with  the  accumulation  of  dung  and  litter, 
until  the  season  of  spreading  it  upon  the  land,  Avhen  it  was  taken 
away. 

The  peculiarity  of  the  climate,  and  the  want  of  inclosed  lands,  and 
the  want,  too,  of  forethought  in  the  farmer,  were  the  chief  causes  of 
this  wretched  system  of  winter  starvation.  The  rapidity  of  vegetation 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  spring  is  astonishing  in  these  islands.  A 
good  pasture  can  scarcely  be  left  a  fortnight  without  growing  high 
and  rank  ;  and  even  the  unenclosed,  and  marshy,  and  heathy  grounds, 
are  comparatively  luxuriant.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  farmer  fully 
stocked,  or  overstocked,  even  this  pasture.  He  crowded  his  fields 
at  the  rate  of  six  or  eight  beasts,  or  more,  to  an  acre.  From  their 
natural  aptitude  to  fatten,  they  got  into  tolerable  condition,  but  not 
such  as  they  might  have  attained.  Winter,  however,  succeeded  to 
summer :  no  provision  had  been  made  for  it,  except  for  the  cows ; 
and  the  beasts  that  were  not  properly  fed  even  in  the  summer,  lan- 
guished and  starved  in  the  winter. 

The  Hebrides,  howevei-,  have  partaken  of  that  improvement  in 
agriculture  of  which  we  shall  have  frequently  to  speak  v/hen  describ- 
ing the  different  districts  of  Scotland.  In  the  island  of  Islay,  the 
following  is  the  general  system  of  management  among  the  better 
kind  of  farmers,  and  the  account  will  apply  to  the  Hebrides  generally, 
and  to  Argyleshire. 

The  calves  generally  are  dropped  from  the  1st  of  February  to  the 
middle  of  April.  All  are  reared  ;  and  for  three  or  four  months  are 
allowed  to  suck  three  times  in  the  day,  but  are  not  permitted  to 
draw  any  great  quantity  at  a  time.  In  summer,  all  the  cattle  are 
pastured ;  the  calves  are  sent  to  their  dams  twice  a  day,  and  the 
strippings,  or  last  part  of  the  milk,  is  taken  away  by  the  dairy-maid. 
The  calves  are  separated  from  their  dams  two  or  three  weeks  before 
the  cast-cows  are  sent  to  the  cattle-tryst  at  the  end  of  October,  the 
greater  part  of  them  being  driven  as  far  as  the  Lowland  districts, 
whence  they  gradually  find  their  way  to  the  central  and  southern 
counties  of  England. 

The  calves  are  housed  in  the  beginning  of  November,  a-nd  are 
highly  fed  on  hay  and  roots  (for  the  raising  of  which  the  soil  and 
climate  are  admirably  adapted)  until  the  month  of  May.  When 
there  is  plenty  of  keep,  the  breeding  cows  arc  housed  in  November, 
but  in  general  they  are  kept  out  until  three  or  four  weeks  before 
calving.  In  May  the  whole  cattle  are  turned  out  to  pasture,  and,  if 
it  is  practicable,  those  of  dififerer.t  ages  sre  kept  separate ;  while,  by 


THE    WEST    HIGHBINDERS.  45 


shifting  the  cattle,  the  pasture  is  kept  as  much  as  possible  in  eatable 
condition,  that  is,  neither  eaten  too  bare,  nor  allowed  to  get  too  rank, 
or  to  run  into  seed. 

In  the  winter  and  the  spring  all  the  cattle  except  the  breeding 
cows  are  fed  in  the  fields ;  the  grass  of  which  is  preserved  from  the 
12  th  of  August  to  the  end  of  October.  When  these  in  closures  be- 
come bare,  about  the  end  of  December,  a  little  hay  is  taken  into  the 
field,  with  turnips  or  potatoes,  once  or  twice  in  the  day,  according  to 
circumstances,  until  the  middle  or  end  of  April.  Few  of  the  farmers 
ha^ve  these  roots  to  give  them,  and  the  feeding  of  the  out-lying  cattle 
with  straw  is  quite  abolished.  If  any  of  them,  however,  are  very 
materially  out  of  condition,  they  are  fed  with  oats  in  the  sheaf.  At 
two,  or  three,  or  four  years  old,  all  except  the  heifers  retained  for 
breeding  are  sent  to  market. 

There  is  no  variety  of  breeds  of  cattle  in  the  Hebrides.  They  are 
pure  West  Highlanders.  Indeed,  it  is  the  belief  of  the  Hebridean 
farmer,  that  no  other  cattle  will  thrive  on  these  islands,  and  that 
the  Kyloes  could  not  possibly  be  improved  by  being  crossed  with  any 
others.  He  appeals  to  his  uniform  experience,  and  most  correctly  so 
in  the  Hebiides,  that  attempts  at  crossing  have  only  destroyed  the 
symmetry  of  the  Kyloes,  and  rendered  them  more  delicate,  and  less 
suitable  to  the  climate  and  the  pasture. 

By  selection  from  the  choicest  of  the  stock,  the  West  Highlander 
has  been  materially  improved.  The  Islay,  the  Isle  of  Skye,  and 
the  Argylesliire  beast,  readily  obtains  a  considerably  higher  price 
than  any  other  cattle  reared  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  Mr 
M'Neil  has  been  eminentl)^  successful  in  his  attempts  to  improve  the 
native  breed.  He  has  often  obtained  £100  for  three  and  four-year-old 
bulls  out  of  his  stock  ;  and  for  one  bull  he  received  £200.  He  never 
breeds  from  bulls  less  than  three  years,  or  more  than  ten  years  old  ; 
and  he  disapproves,  and  rightly  in  such  a  climate,  of  the  system  of 
breeding  in  and  in.  He  also  adheres  to  that  golden  rule  of  breeding, 
the  careful  selection  of  the  female ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  not  a  small  sum 
that  would  induce  the  Hebridean  farmer  to  part  with  any  of  his 
picked  cows. 

It  is  true  that  grazing  has  never  been  the  principal  object  of  the 
Hebridean  farmer,  or  has  scarcely  been  deemed  worthy  of  his  atten- 
tion. 

It  will  be  concluded  from  what  we  have  said  of  the  milking  pro- 
perties of  the  Kyloe,  that  the  dair)'-  is  consideied  as  a  matter  of  little 
consequence  in  the  Hebrides ;  and  the  fai-mer  rarely  keeps  more 
milch  cows  than  will  furnish  his  family  with  milk  and  butter  and 
cheese.  The  Highland  cow  will  not  yield  more  than  a  third  part  of 
the  milk  that  is  obtained  from  the  Ayrshire  one  at  no  great  distance 
on  the  main  land  ;  but  that  milk  is  exceedingly  rich,  and  the  b.itter 
procured  from  it  is  excellent. 


16 


CATTLE. 


Oxen  are  never  used  for  the  plough,  or  on  the  road,  en  any  of  the 
Hebrides. 

We  have  stated  that  more  than  20,000  of  the  Hebridean  cattle  are 
conveyed  to  the  mainland,  some  of  whicli  find  their  way  even  to  the 
southernmost  counties  of  England ;  but,  like  the  other  Highland  cattle, 
their  journey  is  usually  slow  and  interrupted.  Their  first  resting- 
place  is  not  a  great  way  from  the  coast,  for  they  are  frequently  win- 
tered on  the  coarse  pastures  of  Dumbartonshire ;  and  in  the  next 
summer,  after  grazing  aw^iile  on  the  lower  grounds,  they  are  driven 
farther  south,  where  they  are  fed  during  the  second  winter  on  turnips 
and  hay.  In  April  they  are  in  good  condition,  and  prepared  for  the 
early  gi-ass,  on  which  they  are  finished. 

Many  of  these  small  cattle  are  permanently  arrested  in  their  journey, 
and  kept  on  low  farms  to  consume  tlie  coarse  grass,  which  other 
breeds  i*efuse  to  eat ;  these  are  finished  off  on  turnips,  which  are  given 
them  in  the  field  about  the  end  of  autumn,  and  they  are  sold  about 
Christmas. 


THE    WEST    HIGHLAND    CuW. 

In  the  Outer  Hebrides  tlie  black  cattle  are  small  but  well  pro- 
portioned, and  on  the  tackmen's  farms  they  are  generall}'-  of  good 
breed,  and,  although  not  heavy,  very  handsome.  Tliey  are  covered 
with  a  thick  and  long  pile  during  the  winter  and  spring ;  and  a 
good  pile  is  considered  one  of  the  essential  qualifications  of  i 
cow.  The  most  common  colors  are  black,  red,  brown,  or  brand- 
ered,  (that  is,  a  mixture  of  red  and  brown  in  stripes — brindled ) 
A  whitish  dun  color  is  also  pretty  frequently  seen.     The  breed  A 


THE  WEST   HIGHLANDERS. 


black  cattle  has  been  greatly  improved  of  late  years,  by  the  im- 
portation of  bulls  and  cows  from  various  parts  of  the  Highlands. 


WEST   HIGHLANDERS   IN   ARGYLESHIRE. 

The  county  of  Argyle  stretches  along  the  western  coast  of  Scot- 
land for  115  miles,  but  its  average  breadth  is  little  more  than  30 
miles.  The  southern  part  is  low,  and  comparatively  level,  and  the 
temperature  mild.  The  northern  is  rugged  and  mountainous,  and  the 
chmate  cold  and  ungenial,  and  there  is  much  barren  land,  and  little 
good  pasture ;  but  in  Cantire,  at  the  south,  there  is  plenty  of  excel- 
lent feed ;  therefore  the  cattle  differ  materially  in  the  northern  and 
southern  parts.  Among  the  mountains,  the  Highland  breed  is  found 
almost  unmixed ;  in  the  level  country,  there  is  the  same  variety  and 
mixture  of  breed  which  is  observed  in  other  dairy  districts. 

In  North  Argyle  the  West  Highlanders  are  larger  than  the  Hebri- 
deans,  and  are  now  bred  to  the  full  size  which  the  soil,  or  the  best 
qualities  of  the  animal,  will  bear.  That  fundamental  principle  of 
breeding  is  generally  adopted  here,  that  the  size  must  be  determined 
by  the  soil  and  the  food  ;  and  that  it  is  far  more  profitable  to  the 
farmer  to  have  the  size  of  his  breed  under,  than  over,  the  produce  of 
his  land.  Both  will  gradually  adapt  themselves  to  the  soil ;  but  the 
small  beast  will  become  more  bulky,  and  improve  in  all  his  points — 
the  large  one  will  degenerate  in  form  and  in  every  good  quality.  There- 
fore, the  soil  and  management  of  Argyle  being,  generally  speaking, 
better  than  that  of  the  Hebrides,  it  was  found  that  a  somewhat  larger 
animal  might  be  admitted ;  he  was,  however,  procured,  not  by  cross- 
ing with  a  breed  of  superior  size,  but  by  careful  selection  from  the 
best  of  the  pure  breed.  Experience  and  judgment  soon  discovered 
when  the  proper  point — the  profitable  weight — Avas  gained ;  and 
then  the  farmer  went  back  to  the  equally  pure  but  smaller  breed  of 
Skye,  lest  the  form  should  be  deteriorated,  and  the  fattening  should 
not  be  so  equable  and  true,  and  the  meat  should  lose  some  of  its 
beautiful  character  and  flavor. 

There  is  no  part  of  the  Highlands  where  the  soil  and  the  climate 
are  better  adapted  to  the  perfection  of  the  breed  than  in  Argyle,  or 
where  we  oftener  see  the  true  characteristics  of  the  best  Highland 
cattle — short  and  somewhat  strong  in  the  shank,  round  in  the  body, 
straight  in  the  back,  well-haired,  long  in  the  muzzle,  and  with  a  well- 
turned  and  rather  small  horn.  There  is  no  district  in  which  the 
farmer  so  superstitiously,  and  yet  properly,  refrains  from  foreign  ad- 
mixture. Could  the  two  great  errors  of  the  Highland  farmer  be 
remedied,  namely,  overstocking  in  summer  and  starving  in  winter — 
there  would  be  nothing  more  to  desire  for  the  grazier,  except,  per- 


CATTLE. 


THE    WEST    HIGHLANDERS. 


haps,  docility  of  temper ;  and  that  will  be  acquired  when  improve* 
ments  in  agriculture  have  rendered  it  unnecessary  for  the  beast  to 
wander  so  tar  over  so  wild  a  country,  in  search  of  food,  and  when  he 
will  be  earlier  and  more  perfectly  domesticated.  The  Highlander, 
however,  must  be  reared  for  the  grazier  alone.  Every  attention  to 
increa.se  his  weijj^ht,  in  order  to  make  him  capable  of  agricultural 
hibor — every  effort  to  qualify  him  for  the  dairv,  will  not  only  lessen 
his  hardiness  of  constitution  and  propensity  to  fatten,  but  will  fail  in 
rendering  him  valuable  for  the  purpose  at  which  the  farmer  foolishly 
aims.  The  character  of  the  Highlander  must  still  be,  that  he  will 
pay  better  for  his  quantity  of  food  than  any  other  breed,  and  will 
fatten  where  any  other  breed  would  only  live.  This  is  the  secret  of 
profitably  breeding  or  grazing  the  Highland  cattle. 


THE  WEST    HIGHLAND    FAT    OX. 


The  management  both  of  the  cow  and  her  calf  depend  much  on 
the  object  which  the  breeder  principally  pursues.  If  he  studies  the 
character  of  his  stock,  he  makes  little  butter  and  cheese,  and  generally 
rears  a  calf  for  every  cow,  giving  it  the  greater  part  of  her  milk.  A 
likely  bull-calf  is  sometimes  allowed  the  milk  of  two  cows  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  and  often  for  six  months.  When  the  calves  are 
weaned,  they  are  fed  on  the  hills  during  the  summer,  and  brought'on 
the  lower  grounds  in  winter;  and,  if  the  pasture  is  not  good,  they 
are  occasionally  fed  with  straw  and  hay.  It  is  after  the  first  winter 
that  the  absurd  and  cruel  system  of  overstocking  and  starvation  com- 


80 


CATTLE. 


meno€S.  From  the  superiority  of  the  soil,  however,  tliis  is  not  carried 
to  the  ruinous  extent  here  that  it  is  in  the  Hebrides,  in  favoj-able 
situations,  some  farmers  winter  their  calves  in  open  sheds,  where  they 


are  fed  with  hay  in  the  racks, 
not  cripple  their  grow^th. 


This  makes  them  hardier,  and  does 


WEST    HIGHLAND    FEEDING    OX. 

The  Argyleshire  farmer  is  sometimes  wrong  in  breeding  from  a 
favorite  cow  too  long.  Although  the  Highlanders  fatten  rapidly  for 
a  certain  time,  and  begin  early  to  fatten  where  the  pastiirage  will 
give  them  opportunity,  they  do  not  thrive  so  "well  when  old.  A  cow, 
ultimately  destined  for  the  drover,  should  not  be  permitted  to  breed 
after  six  years  old.  She  may  make  fair  meat  for  home  consumption, 
but  she  will  not  fatten  so  quickly,  or  so  truly,  on  all  her  points  ; 
and  the  drover  will  seldom  purchase  her  except  at  a  very  inferior 
price. 

It  is  now  also  established  as  a  principle,  that  the  same  h\\.\  should 
not  be  used  too  long.  The  hardiness  of  the  cattle  has  been  thought 
to  be  materially  affected  by  it.  The  bulls  are  generally  disposed 
of  at  six  years  old,  when  they  are  in  full  vigor,  and  valuable  for  some 
distant  herd. 

The  Ayrshire  cow  has,  however,  nearly  superseded  the  native 
breed  through  the  whole  of  Argyleshire  for  the  purposes  of  the 
dairy.  She  is  promising  to  spread  as  rapidly  and  as  widely  through 
the  middle  and  northern  parts  of  Scotland  as  the  short- horn  has  done 


THE  WEST  HIGHLANDERS. 


51 


along  the  whole  of  the  eastern  part  of  England.  The  West  Highland 
cattle  are  universally  adopted  for  grazing  farms,  and  the  Ayrshire 
nearly  as  generally  for  the  dairy.  Some  Galloways  are  found  in 
Argyle,  and  particularly  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county :  but 
they  are  not  equal  to  the  native  Highlanders. 


THE    SHETLAND  ISLANDS. 


SHETLAND  BULL,   OR  WEST  HIGHLANDER  OF  THE  SHETLAND  ISLES. 

The  Shetland  islands  present  a  wonderful  scene  of  rugged,  black, 
and  barren  rocks.  No  tree  or  shrub  relieves  these  dreary  scenes, 
and  only  gray  rocks  appear  rising  from  the  marshes,  and  pools,  and 
shores,  bounded  by  the  wildest  precipices.  There  are  few  or  no  arti- 
ficial grasses,  or  green  crops,  or  enclosures  protecting  these  cr-ops, 
and  grasses  could  not  be  brought  to  perfection  in  these  islands  :  there 
is  nothing  but  moss,  heath,  and  sea-weed ;  yet  there  is  a  breed  of 
horses,  diminutive,  but  beautiful,  hardy,  and  strong ;  and  the  cattle 
are  of  the  same  origin  with  the  West  Highlanders.  They  have  been 
diminished  in  size  by  the  coldness  of  the  climate  and  the  scarcity  of 
food ;  but  they  have  not  been  so  seriously  injured  by  the  folly  of 
men — they  have  not  been  domesticated  to  be  starved  outright.  They 
are  small,  gaunt,  ill-shaped,  so  far,  indeed,  as  their  shape  can  be 
ascertained  through  the  long,  thick  hair  with  which  they  are  covered, 
and  which  forms  an  impenetrable  defence  against  the  snow  and  the 


62 


CATTLE. 


sleet.     They  are  rarely  more  than  four  feet  high  at  the  withers,  and 
sometimes  scarcely  more  than  thirty-five  or  forty  pounds  a  quarter. 

The  Shetland  cattle  contrive  to  live  on  their  native  moors  and 
wastes,  and  some  of  tliem  fatten  there  ;  for  a  considerable  and  in- 
creasing quantity  of  beef  is  salted  in  Shetland  and  sent  to  the  main- 
land, the  quality  of  which  is  exceedingly  good.  When,  however,  the 
Shetlanders  are  transported  to  the  comparatively  richer  pastures  of 
the  north  of  Scotland,  they  thrive  with  almost  incredible  rapidity, 
and  their  flesh  and  fat,  being  so  newly  and  quickly  laid  on,  is  said  to 
be  peculiarly  delicious  and  tender.  They  run  to  fifteen  or  sixteen, 
or  even  twenty  stones  in  weight.  If  they  are  carried  still  farther 
south  they  rarely  thrive ;  they  become  sickly,  and  even  poor,  in  the 
midst  of  abundance  :  the  change  is  too  great,  and  the  constitution 
cannot  become  habituated  to  it. 


ABERDEENSHIRE. 

This  extensive  county  breeds  or  grazes  more  cattle  than  any  other 
of  Scotland,  The  cattle  in  Aberdeenshire  have  been  calculated  at 
110,000.  More  than  20,000  are  slaughtered,  or  sold  to  the  grazieis, 
every  year. 


.:^^-.;^5?.  „. 


ABERDEENSHIRE    OX. 


THE    ABERDEEN    BREED. 


68 


The  character  of  the  cattle  varies  with  that  of  the  country.  In 
the  interior,  and  on  the  hills,  formerly  occupying  the  whole  of  that 
district,  and  still  existing  in  considerable  numbers,  is  the  natire  un- 
mixed Highland  breed.  This  breed,  however,  would  be  out  of  its 
place  in  the  milder  climate  and  more  productive  soil  of  the  lower 
district  of  Aberdeen ;  another  kind  of  cattle  was  therefore  gradually 
raised,  the  origin  of  which  it  is  difficult  to  describe. 

It  was  fi]-st  attempted  by  judicious  selections  from  the  native 
breed,  and  some  increase  of  size  was  obtained,  but  not  sufficient  for 
the  pasture.  The  loiig-horn  and  the  short-horn  were  tried  ;  but 
either  they  did  not  amalgamate  with  the  native  breed,  or  a  species  of 
cattle  were  produced  too  large  for  the  soil.  There  were  exceptions 
to  this,  and  one  of  them,  the  Kintore  ox,  we  give  in  two  stages  of  his 
preparation  for  market. 

He  was  bred  bred  by  Lord  Kintore  from  an  Aberdeenshire  cow 
and  a  short-horn  bull. 


KINTORE    ox.    FEEDING. 

This  animal  was  a  sufficient  proof  of  what  may  be  effected  by  the 
cross.  The  introduction  of  steam  will  probably  tempt  many  of  the 
northern  breeders  to  try  this  first  cross. 

To  improve  the  Aberdeen  cattle,  all  the  southern  counties  of  Scot- 
land were  resorted  to,  but  with  doubtful  success.  The  Fife,  or 
Falkland  breed,  possessed  enough  of  the  old  cattle  to  bid  fair  to 
mingle  and  be  identified  with  the  natives,  while  the  bones  were 
smaller,  the  limbs  cleaner,  and  yet  short ;  the  carcass  fairly  round, 
and  the  hips  wide  and  they  were  superior  in  size,  hardy,  and  docile. 


84  CATTLE 


and  excellent  at  work,  and  good  milkers.  These  were  desirable 
qualities,  and  particularly  as  mingling  with  the  Highland  breed. 
Accordingly,  bulls  from  Fife  were  introduced  into  Aberdeen,  and 
the  progeny  so  answered  as  to  be  generally  adopted,  and  become 
the  foundation  of  what  is  now  regarded  as  the  Aberdeenshire  native 
breed. 


KINTORE    OX,    FATTED. 

The  horns  do  not  taper  so  finely,  nor  stand  so  much  upward  as  in 
tne  West  Highlanders,  and  they  are  also  whiter ;  the  hair  is  shorter 
and  thinner ;  the  ribs  cannot  be  said  to  be  flat,  but  the  chest  is 
deeper  in  proportion  to  the  circumference  ;  and  the  buttock  and 
thighs  are  likewise  thinner.  The  color  is  usually  black,  but  some- 
times brindled  :  they  are  heavier  in  carcass ;  they  give  a  larger  quan- 
tity of  milk  ;  but  they  do  not  attain  maturity  so  early  as  the  West 
Highlanders,  nor  is  their  flesh  quite  so  beautifully  marbled  :  yet,  at 
a  proper  age,  they  fatten  as  readily  as  the  others,  not  only  on  gocd 
pasture,  but  on  that  which  is  somewhat  inferior. 


THE  AYRSHIRES. 


AYRSHIRE  BREED. 

This  county  extends  along  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Firth  of  Clyde, 
and  the  Nortk  Channel  from  Renfrew  to  Wigtownshire,  by  the  for- 
mer of  which  it  is  bordered  on  the  north,  and  by  the  latter  on  the 
south,  while  it  has  Kircudbright,  Dumfries,  and  Lanark  on  the 
east.  The  climate  is  moist,  but  mild ;  and  the  soil,  with  its  produce, 
is  calculated  to  render  it  the  finest  dairy  county  in  Scotland,  and 
equal,  perhaps,  to  any  in  Great  Britain.  There  is  a  great  deal  of 
permanent  pasture  on  the  sides  and  tops  of  the  hills  ;  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  arable  land  is  pasture  and  crop  alternately.  The  pasture- 
ground  is  occupied  by  the  beautiful  dairy  stock,  a  very  small  portion 
of  it  being  reserved  for  the  fattening  of  cows  too  old  to  milk. 

Ayrshire  is  divided  into  three  districts ; — south  of  the  river  Doon 
is  the  Bailiary  of  Carrick — between  the  Doon  and  the  Irvine  is  the 
Bailiary  of  Kyle,  and  north  of  the  Irvine  is  Cunningham.  This  last 
division  lays  principal  claim  to  be  the  native  country  of  the  Ayrshire 
cattle,  and,  indeed,  they  once  went  by  the  name  of  the  Cunningham 
cattle. 

Mr.  Alton,  in  his  "  Treatise  on  the  Dairy  Breed  of  Cows,"  thus 
describes  the  Ayrshire  cattle  ; — "  The  shapes  most  approved  of,  are — 
head  small,  but  rather  long  and  narrow  at  the  muzzle ;  the  eye  small, 
but  smart  and  lively  ;  the  horns  small,  clear,  crooked,  and  their  roots 
at  considerable  distance  from  each  other ;  neck  long  and  slender, 
tapering  toward  the  head,  with  no  loose  skin  below  ;  shoulders  thin ; 
fore-quarters  light ;  hind-quarters  large  ;  hack  straight,  broad  behind, 
the  joints  rather  loose  and  open  ;  carcass  deep,  and  pelvis  capacious, 
and  wide  over  the  hips,  with  round  fleshy  buttocks  ;  tail  long  and 
small ;  legs  small  and  short,  with  ^rm  joints  ;  udder  capacious,  broad, 
and  square,  stretching  forward,  and  neither  fleshy,  low  hung,  nor 
loose ;  the  milk  veins  large  and  prominent ;  teats  short,  all  pointing 
6utward,  and  at  considerable  distance  from  each  other ;  skin  thin  and 
loose ;  hair  soft  and  wooly.  The  head,  bones,  hor7is,  and  all  parts  of 
least  value,  small ;  and  the  general  figure  compact  and  well  propor- 
tioned." Mr.  Rankine  very  properly  remarks,  that,  *'  compared  with 
other  improved  breeds,  the  thighs,  or  what  is  called  the  twist  of  thi 
Ayrshire  cow,  are  thin.  She  is,  characteristically,  not  a  fleshy 
animal." 

The  Ayrshire  farmers  prefer  their  dairy-bulls,  according  to  the 
feminine  aspect  of  their  heads  and  necks ;  and  wish  them  not  round 
behind,  but  broad  at  the  hook-bones  and  hips,  and  full  in  the  flanks. 
Experience,  dearly  bought,  led  to  this,  for  the  consequence  of  the 
crossing  of  the  small  native  breeds  with  the  heavy  cattle  imported 
from  the  south,  was  a  bony,  ill-shaped  animal,  not  much  improved  as 
a  milker,  and  its  disposition  to  fat  lamentably  decreased ;  it  may, 
however,  demand  consideration  whether  the  round  and  compact  form 


06 


CATTLE. 


of  the  West  Highlander  and  the  Galloway  ^have  not  been  too 
much  sacrificed,  and  even  the  defects  of  the  short-l  orn  needlessly- 
perpetuated*. 

Mr.  Alton  says  : — "  The  qualities  of  a  cow  are  of  great  importance. 
Tameness  and  docility  of  temper  greatly  enhance  the  value  of  a  milch 
cow.  Some  degree  of  hardiness,  a  sound  constitution,  and  a  mode- 
rate degree  of  life  and  spirits,  are  qualities  to  be  wished  for  in  a 
dairy  cow,  and  what  those  of  x\yrshire  generally  possess.  The  most 
valuable  quality  which  a  dairy  cow  can  possess  is,  that  she  yields 
much  milk,  and  that  of  an  oily,  or  butyraceous,  or  caseous  nature, 
and  that  after  she  has  yielded  very  large  quantities  of  milk  for  several 
years,  she  shall  be  as  valuable  for  beef  as  any  other  breed  of  cows 
known ;  her  fat  shall  be  much  more  mixed  through  the  whole  flesh, 
and  she  shall  fatten  faster  than  any  other."  This  is  high  praise,  if  it 
can  be  truly  affirmed  of  the  Ayrshire  cattle;  we  are  naturally  anxious 
to  know  the  origin,  the  history,  and  the  general  management  of  this 
valuable  animal. 


AYRSHIRE    cow. 

The  origin  of  the  Ayrshire  cow  is  even  at  the  present  day  a  matter 
of  dispute ;  all  that  is  certainly  known  is,  that  a  century  ago  there 
was  no  such  breed  in  Cuimingham,  or  Ayrshire,  or  Scotland.  Did 
the  Ayrshire  cattle  arise  entirely  from  a  careful  selection  of  the  best 
of  the  native  breed  ? — if  they  did,  it  is  a  circumstance  unparalleled 
in  the  history  of  agriculture.  The  native  breed  may  be  ameliorated 
by  careful  selection  ;  its  value  may  be  incalculably  increased — some 
good  quahties — some  of  its  best  qualities — may  be  for  the  first  time 


THE  AYRSHIRE S. 


57 


developed ;  but  yet  there  will  be  some  resemblance  to  the  orioinal 
stock,  and  the  more  we  examine  the  animal,  the  more  clearly  we  can 
trace  out  the  characteristic  points  of  the  ancestor,  although  every 
one  of  them  improved. 


THE    AYRSHIRE    BULL. 


Mr.  Alton  gives  the  following  description  of  the  Ayrshire  cattle 
seventy  years  ago : — "  Tlie  cows  kept  in  the  districts  of  Kyle  and 
Cunningliam  were  of  a  diminutive  size,  ill-fed,  ill-shaped,  and  they 
yielded  but  a  scanty  return  in  milk ;  they  were  mostly  of  a  black 
color,  with  large  stripes  of  white  along  the  chine  or  ridge  of  their 
backs,  about  the  flanks,  and  on  their  faces.  Their  horns  were  high 
and  crooked,  having  deep  ringlets  at  the  root,  the  plainest  proof  that 
the  cattle  were  but  scantily  fed  ;  the  chine  of  their  backs  stood  up 
high  and  narrow :  their  sides  were  lank,  short  and  thin  ;  their  hides 
thick,  and  adhering  to  the  bones ;  their  pile  was  coarse  and  open  ; 
and  few  of  them  yielded  more  than  six  or  eight  quarts  of  milk  per 
day,  when  in  their  best  plight ;  or  weighed,  when  fat,  more  than  from 
twelve  or  sixteen  to  twenty  stones  avoirdupois,  sinking  offal."  It  was 
impossible  that  these  cattle,  fed  as  they  then  were,  could  be  of  great 
weight,  well  shaped,  or  yield  much  milk.  Their  only  food  in  winter 
and  spring  was  oat-straw,  and  what  they  could  pick  up  in  the  fields 
to  which  they  were  turned  out  almost  every  day,  with  a  mash  of  a 
little  com  with  chaff  daily  for  a  few  weeks  after  cahing,  and  their 
pasture  in  summer  vas  of  the  very  worst  quahty ;  and  that  coarse 
3* 


88  CATTLE. 


pasture  was  so  overstocked,  and  eaten  so  bare,  that  the  cattle  were 
half-starved. 

If  Mr.  Alton's  description  of  the  present  improved  Ayrshire  it) 
correct,  the  breed  is  very  much  changed,  and  yet  there  is  so  much 
indistinct  resemblance,  that  a  great  deal  of  it  must  have  been  done 
by  careful  selection,  from  among  the  native  cattle,  and  better  feeding 
and  treatment ;  but  when  we  look  closer  into  the  matter,  the  short- 
ness, or  rather  dirainutiveness  of  the  horns,  their  width  of  base,  and 
awkward  setting  on ;  the  peculiar  tapering  towards  the  muzzle  ;  the 
narrowing  at  the  girth ;  the  bellying  ;  and  the  prominences  of  all  the 
bones — these  are  features  which  it  is  impossible  for  any  selection  from 
the  native  breed  to  give.  While  the  judge  of  cattle  will  trace  the 
features  of  the  old  breed,  he  will  suspect,  what  general  tradition  con- 
firms, that  it  was  a  fortunate  cross,  or  a  succession  of  crosses  with 
some  foreign  stock,  and  that,  probably,  it  was  the  Teeswater  short- 
horn that  helped  to  produce  the  improved  Cunningham  cattle. 

In  many  other  districts  of  Scotland  the  attempt  to  introduce  the 
Teeswater  breed,  or  to  estabhsh  a  cross  from  it,  had  palpably  failed, 
for  the  soil  and  the  climate  suited  only  the  hardihood  of  the  High- 
lander ;  but  here  in  Ayrshire  was  a  mild  chmate — a  dairy  country ; 
the  Highlander  was  in  a  manner  out  of  his  place  ;  he  had  degene- 
rated, and  the  milking  properties  of  the  Teeswater  and  her  capa- 
bility of  ultimately  fattening,  amalgamated  with  his  hardihood  and 
disposition  to  fatten,  and  there  resulted  a  breed,  bearing  the  stamp  of 
its  progenitors,  and,  to  a  very  considerable  degree,  the  good  quahties 
of  both. 

Who  introduced  the  present  breed  is  not  very  precisely  ascer- 
tained ;  but  the  late  Colonel  Fullarton,  in  his  account  of  **  The  Hus- 
bandry of  Ayrshire,"  which  was  published  in  1*793,  and  whose  au- 
thority is  of  considerable  weight  in  everything  relating  to  it,  states, 
that  a  gentleman  of  long  experience,  Mr.  Bruce  Campbell,  asserts 
that  this  breed  was  introduced  by  the  late  Earl  of  Marchmont.  The 
introduction,  then,  of  this  dairy-stock  must  have  happened  between 
1724  to  1740,  and  so  far  corresponds  with  the  traditionary  account. 
From  wliat  particular  part  of  the  country  they  came  there  appears 
no  evidence.  The  conjecture  is,  that  they  are  either  of  the  Teeswater 
breed,  or  derived  from  it ;  judging  from  the  varied  color,  or,  from 
somewhat  better  evidence,  the  small  head  and  slender  neck,  in  which 
they  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  them.  Some  breeders,  however, 
have  maintained  that  they  were  produced  from  the  native  cow, 
crossed  by  the  Alderney  bull.  It  requires  but  one  moment's  inspec- 
tion of  the  animals,  to  convince  us  that  this  supposition  is  altogether 
erroneous. 

These  catttle,  from  which,  by  crosses  with  the  native  breed,  the 
present  improved  Ayrshire  arose,  were  first  introduced  on  Lord 
MarchmoFt's  estates  in  Berwickshire,  and  at  Sornbergh  in  Kyle.     A 


THE    AYRSHIRES- 


bull  of  the  new  stock  was  sold  to  Mr.  Hamilton  of  Sundrum ;  then 
Mr.  Dunlop  in  Cunningham  imported  some  of  the  short-horns,  and 
their  progeny  was  long  afterwards  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the 
Dunlop  cows.  These  were  the  first  of  the  improved  breed  that 
reached  the  bailliery  of  Cunningham.  Mr.  Orr,  about  the  year  1*767, 
brought  to  Kilmarnock  some  fine  milch  cows,  of  a  larger  size  than  any 
which  had  been  seen  there.  It  was  not,  however,  until  about  1780 
that  this  improved  breed  might  be  said  to  be  duly  estimated,  or  gene- 
rally established  in  that  part  of  Ayrshire ;  about  1790,  Mr.  Fulton  from 
Blith  carried  them  first  into  Carrick,  and  Mr.  Wilson  of  Kilpatrick 
first  took  them  to  the  southern  parts  of  that  district.  So  late  as 
1804  they  were  introduced  on  the  estate  of  Penmore,  and  they  are 
now  the  established  cattle  of  Ayrshire  :  they  are  increasing  in  the 
neighboring  counties,  and  have  found  their  way  to  most  parts  of 
Britain. 

The  breed  has  much  improved  since  Mr.  Alton  described  it,  and  is 
short  in  the  leg,  the  neck  a  little  thicker  at  the  shoulder,  but  finely 
shaped  toward  the  head  ;  the  horns  smaller  than  those  of  the  High- 
lander, but  clear  and  smooth,  pointing  forward,  turning  upward, 
and  tapering  to  a  point.  They  are  deep  in  the  carcass,  but  not 
round  and  ample,  and  especially  not  so  in  the  loins  and  haunches. 
Some,  however,  have  suspected,  and  not  without  reason,  that  an  at- 
tention to  the  shape  and  beauty,  and  an  attempt  to  produce  fat  and 
sleeky  cattle,  which  may  be  admired  at  the  show,  has  a  tendency  to 
improve  what  is  only  their  quality  as  grazing  cattle — and  that  at  the 
certainty  of  diminishing  their  value  as  milkers. 

The  excellency  of  a  dairy  cow  is  estimated  by  the  quantity  and 
the  quality  of  her  milk.  The  quantity  yielded  by  the  Ayrshire  cow 
is,  considering  her  size,  very  great.  Five  gallons  daily,  for  two  or 
three  months  after  calving,  may  be  considered  as  not  more  than  an 
average  quantity.  Three  gallons  daily  will  be  given  for  the  next 
three  months,  and  one  gallon  and  a  half  during  the  succeeding  four 
months.  This  would  amount  to  more  than  850  gallons ;  but  allow- 
ing for  some  improductive  cows,  600  gallons  per  year  may  be  the 
average  quantity  annually  from  each  cow. 

The  disposal  of  the  milk  varies  according  to  the  situation  of  the 
farm  and  the  character  of  the  neigborhood.  If  it  is  sold  as  new 
milk,  the  produce  of  the  cow  will  be  £20  per  annum.  Others 
at  a  distance  from  any  considerable  town,  convert  it  into  butter  or 
cheese. 

The  quality  of  the  milk  is  estimated  by  the  quantity  of  butter  or 
cheese  that  it  will  yield.  Three  gallons  and  a  half  of  this  milk  will 
yield  about  a  pound  and  a  half  of  butter.  An  A3n'shire  cow,  there- 
fore, may  be  reckoned  to  yield  257  pounds  of  butter  per  annum. 

When  the  calculation  is  formed,  according  to  the  quantity  of  cheese 
that  is  usually  produced,  the  following  will  be  the  result : — twenty- 


60  CATTLE. 

eight  gallons  of  milk,  with  the  cream,  will  yield  24  pounds  of  sweet- 
milk  cheese,  or  514  pounds  per  annum. 

This  is  certainly  an  extraordinary  quantity  of  butter  and  cheese, 
and  fully  establishes  ihe  reputatiun  of  the  Ayrshire  cow,  so  far  as  the 
dairy  is  concerned.  "^^ 

Mr.  Aiton  rates  the  profit  of  the  Ayrshire  cow  at  a  higher  ^'alue. 
He  says,  "  To  sura  up  all  in  one  sentence,  I  now  repeat  that  thou- 
sands of  the  best  Scotch  dairy  cow>,  when  they  are  in  their  best 
condition  and  well  fed,  yield  at  the  rate  of  1000  gallons  in  one  year; 
that,  in  general,  from  S'{-  to  4  gallons  of  their  milk  will  yield  a  pound 
and  a  half  of  butter  ;  that  21  \  gallons  of  their  milk  will  produce  21 
pounds  weight  of  full  milk-cheese." 

Mr.  Rankine  very  justly  m.aintains  that  Mr.  Alton's  statement  is 
far  too  high,  and  his  cal.^ulations  not  well  founded.  "  He  deduces 
his  statement,"  says  Mr.  Rankine,  "  from  the  circumstance  of  some 
farmers  letting  the  milk  of  their  cows  for  a  year  at  £15  and  £l7, 
which,  taking  30  gallons  to  produce  24  lbs.  of  cheese,  and  the  price 
being  10s.,  would  require  1,080  gallons  for  each  cow.  But  he  is 
not  warranted  in  inferring  that  the  milk  from  which  these  rents  were 
paid  was  all  converted  into  cheese.  No  such  rents  were  ever  paid 
for  cows  where  a  considerable  portion  of  the  milk  was  made  into 
cheese.  In  the  vicinity  of  a  town  where  the  whole  of  the  milk  could 
be  sold  for  8d.  a  gallon,  450  gallons  would  bring  £15.  Where  the 
whole  of  the  milk  could  have  been  turned  to  such  an  account,  such 
rents  might  have  been  paid ;  but  it  is  erroneous  to  calculate  the 
quantity  of  milk  given  from  the  quantity  of  cheese  required  to  enable 
a  rent  of  £15  to  be  paid.  His  first  statement  that  COO  gallons  are 
yielded,  though  far  above  the  average  of  all  the  cows  in  the  county, 
may  be  too  low  when  applied  to  the  best  selected  stocks  on  good 
land  ; — but  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  no  stock  of  20  cows  ever 
averaged  850  gallons  each  in  the  year.  I  have  seen  9  gallons  of 
milk  drawn  from  a  cow  in  one  day.  I  quote  with  confidence  the 
answers  to  queries  which  I  sent  to  two  individuals.  One  states  that, 
at  the  best  of  the  season,  the  average  milk  from  each  is  4|  gallons, 
and  in  a  year  650  gallons  ;  that  in  the  summer  season  32  gallons  of 
entire  milk  will  make  24  lbs.  of  cheese ;  and  48  gallons  of  skimmed 
milk  will  produce  the  same  quantity  :  and  that  90  gallons  will  make 

24  lbs.  of  butter.  Another  farmer,  who  keeps  a  stock  of  between 
30  and  40  very  superior  cows,  always  in  condition,  states  that  the 
average  quantity  of  each  is  G87|  gallons.      Although  there  may  be 

*  In  some  experiments  conducted  at  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield's  dairy  at  Bradley- 
Hall  farm,  it  appeared  that,  in  the  height  of  the  season,  the  Holderncss  would  yield 
7  gallons  and  a  quart ;  the  long  horn  and  the  Alderney,  4  gallons  3  quarts  ;  and  the 
Devon,  4  gallons  1  pint  per  day ;  and  when  this  was  maae  into  butter,  the  result  was, 
from  the  Holderness,  38^  ounces ;  from  the  Devon,  28  ounces  ;  and  from  the  Alderney, 

25  ounces.  The  Ayrshire  yields  5  gallons  pe:  day,  and  from  that  is  produced  3-< 
©unces  of  butter. 


THE    AVRSHIRES.  61 


Ayrsliire  cows  capable  of  giving  900  gallons  in  the  year,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  bring  ten  of  them  together ;  and  in  stocks,  the  greater 
number  most  carefully  selected  and  liberally  fed,  from  650  to  700 
gallons  is  the  very  highest  produce  of  each  in  the  year." 

Mr.  Rankine,  on  his  own  farm,  the  soil  of  an  inferior  nature,  pro- 
duced about  550  gallons,  and  the  receipts  amounted  to  only  £7  13s. 
6d.  per  cow. 

We  have  entered  at  length  into  this,  because  it  is  of  importance  to 
ascertain  the  real  value  and  produce  of  this  breed  of  cattle. 

The  Ayrshire  cattle  are  not  yet  sufficiently  known,  and  cannot  be 
procured  cheap  enough,  or  in  adequate  numbers,  to  undergo  a  fair 
trial  in  the  south.  Some  have  been  tried  in  the  London  dairies.  As 
mere  milkers,  they  could  not  compete  with  the  long-established 
metropolitan  dairy  cow,  the  short-horn.  They  yielded  as  much 
milk,  in  proportion  to  size  and  food,  but  not  in  proportion  to  the 
room  occupied,  and  the  increased  trouble  which  they  gave  from 
being  more  numerous,  in  order  to  supply  the  requisite  quantity  of 
milk.  They  produced  an  unusual  quantity  of  rich  cream  ;  but  there 
was  so  much  difficulty  in  procuring  them,  to  keep  up  the  stock,  and 
the  price  asked  so  great,  that  they  were  compartively  abandoned. 

The  fattening  properties  of  the  Ayrshire  cattle  we  believe  to  be 
exaggerated.  They  will  feed  kindly  and  profitably,  and  their  meat 
will  be  good.  They  will  fatten  on  farms  and  in  districts  where  others 
could  not,  except  supported  by  artificial  food.  They  unite,  perhaps, 
to  a  greater  degree  than  any  other  breed,  the  supposed  incompatible 
properties  of  yielding  a  great  deal  of  milk  and  beef.  It  is,  however, 
on  the  inferior  soil  and  the  moist  climate  of  Ayrshire,  and  the  west 
of  Scotland,  that  their  superiority  as  milkers  is  most  remarkable.  On 
their  natural  food  of  poor  quality  they  give  milk  abundantly  and 
long,  and  often  until  within  a  few  days  of  calving  ;  but  when  they 
are  moved  to  richer  pasture,  their  constitution  changes,  and  they  con- 
vert their  food  more  into  beef.  In  their  own  country,  a  cow  of  a 
fleshy  make,  and  which  seldom  proves  a  good  milker,  may  be  easily 
raised  to  40  or  50  stones,  and  bullocks  of  three  years  old  are  brought 
to  weigh  from  50  to  60  stones.  There  is  a  lurking  tendency  to  fatten 
about  them  which  good  pasture  will  bring  forth ;  so  that  when  the 
Ayrshire  cow  is  sent  to  England  she  loses  her  superiority  as  a  milker, 
and  begins  to  accumulate  flesh.  On  this  account  it  is  that  the 
English  dealers  who  purchase  the  Ayrshire  cows  generally  select  the 
coarsest  animals,  to  avoid  the  consequence  of  the  change  of  climate 
and  food.  It  is  useless  to  exaggerate  the  qualities  of  any  cattle,  and 
it  cannot  be  denied  that  even  in  this  tendency  to  fatten  when  their 
milk  begins  to  fail,  or  Avhich  often  causes  it  to  fail,  the  Ayrshires 
must  yield  to  their  forefathers  the  Highlanders,  and  to  their  neigh- 
bors the  Galloways,  when  put  on  a  poor  soil ;  and  they  will  be  left 
considerably  behind  their   short-horn   sires   when   transplanted   to 


CATTLB. 


luxuriant  pasture.  It  will  be  long,  perhaps,  before  they  will  be 
favorites  with  the  butchers,  for  the  fifth  quarter  will  not  usually 
weigh  well  in  them.  Their  fat  is  mingled  with  the  flesh  rather  than 
separated  in  the  form  of  tallow ;  yet  this  would  give  a  more  beautiful 
appearance  to  the  meat,  and  should  enhance  its  price  to  the  con- 
sumer. 

Two  circumstances,  however,  may  partially  account  for  their  not 
being  thought  to  succeed  so  well  when  grazed :  they  are  not  able  to 
travel  so  far  on  the  same  keeping  as  the  Highland  cattle ;  and,  from 
their  great  value  as  milkers,  they  are  often  kept  till  they  are  too  old 
to  fatten  to  advantage,  or  for  their  beef  to  be  of  the  best  quality. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    POLLED    CATTLE. 

THE    GALLOWAYS 

The  stewartry  of  Kircudbright  and  the  shu-e  of  Wigton,  with  a  part 
of  AjTshire  and  Dumfries,  formed  the  ancient  province  of  Galloway. 
The  two  first  counties  possess  much  interest  with  us  as  the  native 
district  of  a  breed  of  polled,  or  dodded,  or  humble  cattle,  highly 
valued  for  its  grazing  properties.  So  late  as  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  the  greater  part  of  the  Galloway  cattle  were  horned — they 
were  middle-horns :  but  some  were  polled — they  were  either  rem- 
nants of  the  native  breed,  or  the  characteristic  of  the  aboriginal  cat- 
tle would  be  occasionally  displayed,  although  many  a  generation  had 
passed. 

For  more  than  150  years  the  surplus  cattle  of  Galloway  had  been 
sent  far  into  England,  and  principally  into  the  counties  of  Norfolk 
and  Suflfolk.  The  polled  beasts  were  always  favorites  with  the 
English  farmers ;  they  fattened  as  kindly  as  the  others,  they  attained 
a  larger  size,  their  flesh  lost  none  of  its  fineness  of  grain,  and  they 
exhibited  no  wildness  and  dangerous  ferocity  which  are  sometimes 
serious  objections  to  the  Highland  breed.  Thence  it  happened  that, 
in  process  of  time,  the  horned  breed  decreased,  and  was  as  length 
quite  superseded  by  the  polled. 

The  agriculture  of  Galloway  and  its  cattle  were  much  advanced 
by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk,  and  his  son,  Lord  Daer  ;  and  among  the  most 
zealous  and  successful  improvers  of  the  breed  of  Galloway  cattle 
were  the  Hurrays  of  Broughton,  the  Herons  of  Kirrouchtrie,  the 
Gordons  of  Greenlaw,  the  Maxwells  of  Munches,  and  the  Maitlands 
in  the  valley  of  Tarfl",  in  Kircudbright ;  and  in  Wigton,  the  Earls  of 
Galloway,  the  Maxwells  of  Mouneith,  the  McDowals  of  Logan,  the 
Cath carts  of  Genoch,  the  Hathorns  of  Castle- Wig,  and  the  Stewarts 
of  Phygell. 

The  Galloway  cattle  are  straight  and  broad  in  the  back,  and 
nearly  level  from  the  head  to  the  rump,  are  round  in  the  ribs,  and 
also  between  the  shouldera  and  the  ribs,  and  the  ribs  and  the  loins, 
and  broftd  in  the  loin,  without  any  large  projecting  hook  bones.     In 


64 


CATTLE. 


roundness  of  barrel  and  fullness  of  ribs  they  will  compare  with  any 
breed,  and  also  in  the  proportion  which  the  loins  bear  to  the  hook 
bones,  or  protuberances  of  the  ribs.  When  viewed  from  above,  the 
whole  body  appears  beautifully  rounded,  like  the  longitudinal  section 
of  a  roller,  'rhey  are  long  in  the  quarters  and  ribs,  and  deep  in  the 
chest,  but  not  broad  in  the  twist.  There  is  less  space  between  the 
hook  or  hip  bones  and  the  ribs  than  in  most  other  breeds,  a  considera- 
tion  of  much  importance,  for  the  advantage  of  length  of  carcass  con- 
sists in  the  animal  being  well  ribbed  home,  or  as  little  space  as  possi- 
ble lost  in  the  flank. 


LEAN    GALLOWAY    OX. 

The  Galloway  is  short  in  the  leg,  and  moderately  fine  in  the  shank 
bones — the  happy  medium  preserved  in  the  leg,  which  secures  har- 
dihood and  disposition  to  fatten.  With  the  same  cleanness  and  short- 
ness of  shank,  there  is  no  breed  so  large  and  mAiscular  above  the 
knee,  while  there  is  more  room  for  the  deep,  broad,  and  capacious 
chest.  He  is  clean,  not  fine  and  slender,  but  well  proportioned  in 
the  neck  and  chaps ;  a  thin  and  delicate  neck  would  not  correspond 
with  the  broad  shoulders,  deep  chest,  and  close,  compact  form  of  the 
breed.  The  neck  of  the  Galloway  bull  is  thick  almost  to  a  fault. 
The  head  is  rather  heavy  ;  the  eyes  are  not  prominent,  and  the  ears 
are  large,  rough,  and  full  of  long  hairs  on  the  inside. 

The  Galloway  is  covered  with  a  loose  mellow  skin  of  medium 
thickness,  which  is  clothed  with  long,  soft,  silky  hair.     The  skin  is 


THE    POLLED  GALLOWAYS. 


65 


thinner  than  that  of  the  Leicestershire,  but  not  so  fine  as  the  hide  of 
the  short-horn  but  it  handles  soft  and  kindly. 

The  prevailing  and  fashionable  color  is  black — a  few  are  of  a  dark 
brindle  brown,  and  still  fewer  speckled  with  white  spots,  and  some 
of  them  are  of  a  dun  or  drab  color.  Dark  colors  are  uniformly  pre- 
ferred, from  the  belief  that  they  indicate  hardiness  of  constitution. 


GALLOWAY  OX  IN  GOOD  CONDITION, 


The  breeding  of  cattle  has  been,  from  time  almost  immemorial, 
the  principal  object  of  pursuit  with  the  Galloway  farmer.  The  soil 
and  face  of  the  country  are  admirably  adapted  for  this.  The  soil, 
although  rich  is  dry  and  liealthy.  There  are  many  large  tracts  of 
old  grass  land,  that  have  not  been  ploughed  during  any  one's  recol- 
lection, and  which  still  maintain  their  superior  fertility  ;  while  the  finer 
pastures  are  thickly  covered  with  natural  white  clover,  and  other 
valuable  o-ra?ses.  The  surface  of  the  jrround  is  irreoukr,  sometimes 
rising  into  small  globular  hills,  and  at  other  times  into  abrupt  banks, 
and  thus  forming  small  fertile  glens,  and  producing  shelter  for  the 
cattle  in  the  winter  and  early  vegetation  in  the  spring.  In  the  low 
districts  there  is  little  frost  and  snow,  but  the  climate  is  mild  and 


CATTLE. 


rather  moist ;  and  thus  a  languid  vegetation  is  supported  during  the 
winter,  and  pastures  constantly  retain  their  verdure. 

The  young  cattle  are  chiefly  bred  and  reared  to  a  certain  age  upon 
the  higher  districts,  or  upon  the  inferior  lands  in  the  lower  grounds. 
A  few  cows  are  kept  in  the  richer  soils  to  produce  milk,  butter,  and 
cheese  for  the  faraihes  ;  but  it  is  found  more  porfitable  to  breed  and 
rear  the  cattle  upon  inferior  lands,  an(f*afterwards  to  feed  them  upon 
the  finer  ground  and  the  rich  old  pastures.  There  would  be  no  ob- 
jection to  this  if  the  Galloway  farmers  would  afford  their  young 
stock  a  little  shelter  from  the  driving  blasts  of  winter. 

The  regular  Galloway  breeders  rarely  sell  any  of  their  calves  for 
veal ;  v^hicli  is  obtained  only  from  those  who  keep  cows  for  supply- 
ing the  \illagers  with  milk,  and  from  the  few  dairy  farms  where 
cows  are  kept  for  making  cheese. 

The  best  heifers  are  retained  as  breeders,  in  order  to  supply  the 
place  of  those  whose  progeny  is  not  valuable,  or  who  are  turned  oft 
on  account  of  their  age.  The  other  female  calves  are  spayed  during 
the  first  year.  The  spayed  heifers  are  usually  smaller  than  the 
bullocks,  but  they  arrive  sooner  at  maturity ;  they  fatten  readily ; 
their  meat  is  considered  more  deHcate,  and,  in  proportion  to  their 
size,  they  sell  at  higher  prices  than  the  bullocks. 


FAT    GALLOWAY  COW. 


Mr.  Culley  says,  "  In  Galloway  they  spay  more  heifers  than  per- 
in  all  the  island  besides,  and  in  this  too  their  method  is  differ- 


THE   POLLED  GALLOWAfS. 


ent  from  any  other  part  I  am  acquainted  with,  for  they  do  not  cas- 
trate them  until  they  are  about  a  year  old."  They  are  now  generally 
spayed  much  earher  than  they  used  to  be,  but  some  of  the  breeders 
adhere  to  the  old  custom. 

The  young  cattle  are  rarely  housed  after  the  first  winter ;  they 
are  on  their  pastures  day  an4  night,  but  in  cold  weather,  they  re- 
ceive hay  and  straw  in  the  fields,  supporting  themselves  otherwise  on 
the  foggage  left  unconsumed  after  the  summer  grass.  Many  of  the 
farmers  are  beginning  to  learn  their  true  interest,  and  the  pastures 
are  not  so  much  overstocked  in  summer  as  they  used  to  be,  and  a 
portion  of  herbage  is  left  for  the  cattle  in  the  winter ;  therefore,  al- 
though the  beasts  are  not  in  high  condition  in  the  spring,  they  have 
materially  increased  in  size,  and  are  in  a  proper  state  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  the  rich  pastures  of  the  lower  district. 


GALLOWAT    COW. 

The  Galloway  cows  are  not  good  milkers;  but  although  the 
quantity  of  the  milk  is  not  great,  it  is  rich  in  quahty,  and  yields  a 
large  proportion  of  butter.  A  cow  that  gives  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
quarts  per  day  is  considered  very  superior,  and  that  quantity  pro- 
duces more  than  a  pound  and  a  half  of  butter.  The  average,  how- 
ever, of  a  Galloway  cow  cannot  be  reckoned  at  more  than  six  or 
eight  quarts  per  day,  during  the  five  summer  months  after  feeding 
her  calf.  During  the  next  four  months  she  does  not  give  more  than 
half  that  quantity,  and  for  two  or  three  months  she  is  dry. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  young  Galloway  cattle  are  more  exposed 
than  others  to  Redwater,  particularly  on  grass  lands  wanting  lime. 


68 


CATTLE. 


Quarter  Evil  is  also  a  frequent  and  fatal  disease  among  these  young 
cattle.  When  the  Gallownys  become  two  years  old;  they  will  yield  in 
hardiness  to  none,  and  are  comparatively  exempt  from  every  complaint. 

It  has  been  remarked  in  this,  as  in  some  other  breeding  districts, 
that  cows  and  heifers  of  good  quality  are  to  be  met  with  everywhei-e, 
but  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  a  Galloway  bull  fiee  from  defect.  Too 
many  breeders  have  become  careless  fi-om  this  circumstance,  'J  hey 
have  been  contented  with  a  bull  of  moderate  pretensions,  and  the  form 
and  value  of  their  cattle  have  been  depreciated  ;  yet  not  to  the  extent 
that  might  be  feared,  for  the  imperfections  of  the  she  do  not  always 
appear  in  the  progeny,  but  the  sterling  characteristics  of  the  Gallo- 
way cattle  break  out  again,  although  obscured  in  one  generation. 

A  bullock  well  fattened  will  weigh  from  40  to  60  stones  at  3  or  3^ 
years  old,  and  some  have  been  fed  to  more  than  100  stones  imperial 
weight,  at  5  years  old. 


S>s 


GALLOWAY    BULL. 


It  has  often  and  truly  been  remarked,  with  regard  to  the  Galloway 
cattle,  that  while  in  most  other  breeds  of  Scotland  there  may  be 
some  good  beasts,  but  mingled  with  others  of  a  different  and  very 
inferior  kind,  there  is  a  uniform  character,  and  tliat  of  excellence, 
here  ;  one  bullock  selected  at  haphazard  may  generally  be  considered 
a  fair  sample  of  the  lot.     The  breeders  know,  from  long  experience. 


THE     POLLED    GALLOWAYS 


what  kind  of  cattle  will  please  the  farmers  in  Norfolk,  by  whom  they 
are  chiefly  prepared  for  the  London  market,  and  to  that  kind  they 
most  carefully  adhere.  The  drover  likewise  becomes,  by  his  pro- 
fession, an  excellent  judge  of  cattle,  which  he  often  purchases  in 
large  lots.  He  is  unable  to  handle  half  of  them,  but  long  practice 
has  taught  him  to  determine  at  a  glance  whether  they  are  of  equal 
value  and  will  prove  good  feeders. 

There  is,  perhaps,  no  breed  of  cattle  which  can  be  more  truly  said 
to  be  indigenous  to  the  country,  and  incapable  of  improvement  by 
any  foreign  cross,  than  the  Galloways.  The  short-horns  almost  every- 
where else  have  improved  tlie  cattle  of  the  districts  to  which  they 
have  traveled ;  at  least  in  the  first  cross  produced  manifest  improve- 
ment ;  but  even  in  the  first  cross,  the  short-horns  have  done  little 
good  in  Galloway,  and,  as  a  permanent  mixture,  the  choicest  southern 
bulls  have  manifestly  failed.  The  intelligent  Galloway  breeder  is 
now  perfectly  satisfied  that  his  stock  can  only  be  improved  by  adher- 
ence to  the  pure  breed,  and  by  care  in  the  selection. 

The  Galloway  cattle  are  generally  very  docile.  This  is  a  most 
valuable  point  about  them  in  every  respect.  It  is  rare  to  find  even 
a  bull  furious  or  troublesome. 

During  the  last  fifty  years  a  very  great  improvement  has  taken 
place  in  the  rearing  and  grazing  of  cattle  in  Galloway.  Most  of  the 
great  landholders  farm  a  portion  of  their  own  estates,  and  breed  and 
graze  cattle,  and  some  of  them  very  extensively.  Agricultural 
societies  have  been  established  in  the  counties  of  Kirkcudbright  and 
VVigtott,  and  all  the  land-proprietors,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
tenants,  have  become  members  of  them.  These  societies  have  been 
enabled  to  grant  numerous  premiums  for  the  best  management  and 
rearing  of  stock,  and  the  consequence  has  been  very  considerable 
improvement  in  the  breed  of  cattle,  on  the  undeviating  principle, 
however,  of  selection  and  adherence  to  the  pure  breed. 


COMPARATIVE  FEEDING   PROPERTIES  OF   THE   SCOTS  AM;  uEVONS. 

Francis,  Duke  of  Bedford,  in  1795,  commenced  a  series  of  experi- 
ments to  test  the  feeding  properties  of  tlie  various  breeds  of  cattle  ; 
and  there  were  few  breeds  Avhose  relative  qualities  and  value  were 
not  put  fairly  to  the  test  at  his  estate  of  Woburn  Abbey,  and  one 
breed  after  another  was  abandoned,  until  at  his  death  m  1802,  he 
was  balancing  between  the  D  evens  and  Here  fords. 

His  brothei-,  who  succeeded  him,  gave  preference  to  the  Herefords 
for  feeding,  and  the  West  Highlanders  for  grazing.  He  abandoned 
the  Devons  only  as  not  suiting  the  soil  of  Woburn. 

The  following  are  experiments  made  between  Devons  and  West 
Highlanders  and  Galloways. 


70  CATTLE. 

"  Twenty  Devons  and  twenty  Scots  were  bought  in  October,  1822, 
and  wintered. 

"  Ten  of  each  sort  were  fed  in  a  warm  straw-yard  upon  straw 
alone,  but  with  liberty  to  run  out  upon  the  moor. 

"  Ten  were  fed  in  a  meadow,  having  hay  twice  every  day  until 
Christmas. 

**  They  afterwards  lay  in  the  farm-yard,  and  had  oat-straw  and 
hay,  cut  together  into  chaff.  They  were  then  grazed  in  different 
fields,  equal  proportions  of  each  sort  being  put  into  the  same  field. 

"  Those  that  lay  in  the  warm  straw-yard  with  straw  only,  were 
ready  as  soon  as  the  others,  although  the  others  had  an  allowance  of 
hay  during  the  winter. 

"  Sixteen  of  each  were  sold  at  different  times ;  March  24th,  1824, 
being  the  last  sale.  The  Scots  were  ready  first,  and  disposed  of  be- 
fore the  Devons. 

The  Sects  cost  71. 12s.  lOd.  each,  amounting  to  122/.  5s.  4d.;  they  sold      £    s.    d. 
for  235Z.  18s.  6d.     Gain  by  grazing  113   13     2 

The  Devons  cost  71.  6s.  6d.  each,  amounting  to  117/.  4s.,  and  they  sold 
for  250/.;  but  not  being  ready,  on  the  average,  until  between  six  and 
seven  weeks  after  the  Scots,  and  estimating  their  keep  at  3s.  6d.  per 
week  each,  amounting  to  18/.  14s.  6d.,  and  this  being  subtracted  from 
250/.,  there  will  remain  as  the  sum  actually  obtained  for  them  231/.  5s. 
6d.     Gain  114     1     6 


£ 

s. 

d 

54 

14 

0 

44 

8 

3 

10 

5 

4 

10 

13 

8 

Making  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  Devons  of  8     4 

The  remaining  four  of  each  breed  were  kept  and  stall-fed  od 
turnips  and  hay.  The  Scots  sold  at  7oZ.,  and  the  Devons  at  84^., 
the  account  of  which  will  be  as  follows  : — 

Four  Devons  at  7/  6s.  6d.,  cost  29/.  6s.;  they  sold  for  84/.;  leaving 
gain  by  stall-feeding 

Four  Scots  at  71.  12s.  lOc^.,  cost  30/.  lis.  4d.;  they  sold  for  75/.;  leaving 
gain  by  stall-feeding 

Making  balance  in  ii.vor  of  Devons 

Or  total  balance,  adding  the  above  8s.  4d.  in  favc r  of  Devons 

This  experiment  seemed  to  establish  the  superiority  of  the  Devons 
for  both  grazing  and  for  stall-feeding.  But  as  the  gain  by  the  four 
stall-fed  Devons  was  half  as  much  as  that  by  the  sixteen  Scots  at 
straw-yard,  it  was.  determined  that  another  experiment  should  be 
made,  in  which  the  whole  should  be  fed  alike,  both  at  grass  and  in 
the  stall. 

Twenty  Scots  and  twenty  Devons  were  again  bought  in  October, 
and  sold  at  different  times,  but  always  in  equal  number  of  each  at 
each  time,  the  last  sale  taking  place  in  March. 

The  twenty  Devons  cost  189/.  9s.;  they  sold  for  370/.  17s.  lOd.;  leaving  £  s.  d. 

for  feeding  181  8  10 

The  twenty  Scots  cost  212/.  3s.;  they  sold  for  374/.  5s.  Id.;  leaving  for 

feeding  162  1  1 

Balance  in  favor  of  the  Devons  iB19     9     9 


THE    ANGUS    POLLS. 


71 


We  condense  the  second  experiment.  Two  Scots  were  fed  on 
English  hnseed  cakes  ;  two  Devons  on  unboiled  linseed  ;  two  others 
on  boiled  linseed,  and  another  pair  of  Devons  on  foreign,  all  of  them 
having  as  much  hay  and  chaff  as  they  could  eat.  It  was  a  losing 
concern  in  every  case ;  the  value  of  the  manure  was  not  equal  to  the 
difference  of  the  cost  and  the  selling  prices,  and  strange  as  it  may 
appear,  the  greatest  loss  was  sustained  when  the  beasts  were  fed  on 
oil  cake,  the  next  when  foreign  cake  was  used,  the  next  Avhen  boiled 
linseed  was  used,  and  the  least  of  all  when  the  simple  unboiled  lin- 
seed was  given. 

ANGUS   POLLED   CATTLE. 

There  have  always  been  some  polled  cattle  in  Angus ;  the  country 
people  call  them  humlies  or  clodded  cattle.  Their  origin  is  so  remote, 
that  no  account  of  their  introduction  into  this  country  can  be  obtained 
from  the  oldest  farmers  or  breeders.  The  attention  of  some  enter- 
prising agriculturists  appears  to  have  been  first  directed  to  them 
about  sixty  years  ago,  and  particularly  on  the  eastern  coast,  and  on 
the  borders  of  Kincardineshire.  Some  of  the  first  qualities  which 
seem  to  have  attracted  the  attention  of  these  breeders  were  the  pecu- 
liar quietness  and  docility  of  the  doddies,  the  easiness  with  which 
they  were  managed,  the  few  losses  that  were  incurred  from  theu-  in- 
juring each  other  in  their  stalls,  and  the  power  of  disposing  of  a 
greater  number  of  them  in  the  same  space. 


72 


CATTLb:. 


ANGUS    OX,    FEEDING. 


A  few  experiments  upon  them  developed  another  valuable  quality 
. — their  natural  fitness  for  stall-feeding,  and  the  rapidity  with  which 
they  fattened.     This  brought  them  into  much  repute. 

They  have  much  of  the  Galloway  form,  and  by  those  unaccustomed 
to  cattle  would  be  often  mistaken  for  the  Galloways.  A  good  judge, 
however,  would  perceive  that  they  are  larger,  somewhat  longer  ia 
the  leg,  thinner  in  the  shoulder,  and  flatter  in  the  side. 

Climate  and  management  have  caused  another  difference  between 
the  Angus  doddies  and  the  Galloways.  The  Galloways  have  a 
moist  climate  ;  they  have  a  more  robust  appearance,  a  much  thicker 
skin,  and  a  rougher  coat  of  hair  than  the  Angus  oxen.  The  Angus 
cattle  are  regularly  kept  in  straw-yards  during  six  months  of  the 
year,  receiving  turnips  with  their  fodder  every  day,  and  in  summer 
are  grazed  on  dry  and  warm  pastures.  By  this  mode  of  treatment 
they  look  and  feel  more  kindly  than  the  Galloways. 

The  greater  part  of  them  are  black,  or  with  a  few  white  spots. 
The  next  general  color  is  yellow,  comprehending  the  brindled,  dark 
red,  and  silver-colored  yellow.  They  are  a  valuable  breed,  and  have 
rapidly  gained  ground  on  the  horned  cattle,  and  become  far  more 
numerous,  particularly  in  the  Lowlands  ;  and  when  the  agriculturist 
now  speaka  of  the  Angus  breed,  he  refers  to  the  polled  species. 


THE    ANGUS   POLLS 


ANGUS    cow,    FAT. 

The  quantity  of  milk  yielded  by  the  dairy  cows  is  various.  In  the 
hilly  districts  from  two  to  three  gallons  are  given  per  day,  but  that 
is  veiy  rich.  In  the  lowlands  the  cows  will  give  five  gallons  during 
the  best  of  the  season.  The  cows  of  this  district  were  formerly 
regarded  as  some  of  the  best  dairy-cows  in  Scotland,  but  since  the 
breed  has  been  more  improved,  and  greater  attention  paid  to  the 
fattening  qualities,  they  have  fallen  off  in  their  character  for  the  pail. 
About  half  of  the  milk  is  consumed  at  home,  the  rest  is  made  intc 
butter  and  cheese.  The  butter,  as  is  generally  the  case  in  this  part 
of  Scotland,  is  good,  but  the  cheese  poor  and  ill-flavored.  No  oxen 
are  used  on  the  road,  and  few  for  the  plough. 

The  Angus  polled  cattle,  hke  many  other  breeds,  are  exceedingly 
valuable  in  their  own  climate  and  on  their  own  soil,  but  they  do  not 
answer  the  expectations  of  their  purchasers  when  driven  south. 
They  yielded  a  good  remunerating  price,  but  they  are  not  quite  equal 
to  their  ancestors  the  Galloways  in  quickness  of  feeding,  or  fineness 
of  grain.  They  attain  a  larger  size,  but  do  not  pay  the  grazier  or 
butcher  so  well. 


T4 


CATTLE. 


NORFOLK  POLLED  CATTLE. 

Until  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  and  for  some  years  afier> 
•ward,  the  native  breed  of  Norfolk  belonged  to  the  middle-horns. 
They  have,  however,  been  almost  superseded  by  a  polled  breed. 

From  a  very  early  period,  a  great  part  of  the  Galloway  cattle 
were  prepared  for  the  Smithfield  market  on  the  pastures  of  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk.  Some  of  the  Galloways,  accidentally,  or  selec:ed  on 
account  of  their  superior  form  and  quality,  remained  in  Norfolk  ;  and 
the  farmer  attempted  to  neutrahze  and  to  rear  in  his  own  county  a 
breed  of  cattle  so  highly  valued  in  the  London  market.  To  a  cer- 
tain degree  he  succeeded  ;  and  thus  the  polled  cattle  gradually  gained 
upon  the  horned,  and  became  so  much  more  numerous  and  profitable 
than  the  old  sort,  that  they  began  to  be  regarded  as  the  peculiar 
and  native  breed  of  the  county. 


NORFOLK    COW. 

They  retain  much  of  the  general  form  of  their  ancestors,  the  Gal- 
loways, but  not  all  their  excellencies.  They  have  been  enlarged  but 
not  improved  by  a  southern  climate  and  a  richer  soil.  They  are 
usually  red  ;  some,  however,  are  black,  or  either  of  these  colors 
mixed  with  white,  with  a  characteristic  golden  circle  about  the  eye. 
They  are  taller  than  the  Gallow^ays,  but  thinner  in  the  chine,  flatter 
m  the  ribs,  longer  in  the  legs,  somewhat  better  milkers,  of  greater 
weight  when  fattened,  bu.^.  not  fattening  so  kindly,  and  the  meat  no* 
quite  equal  in  quality. 


THE  POLLED  SUFFOLK. 


t5 


SUFFOLK. 

The  Suffolk  Dun  used  to  be  celebrated  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
kino-dora,  on  account  of  the  extraordinary  quantity  of  milk  that  she 
yielded.  The  dun  color  is  now,  however,  rarely  seen  in  Suffolk,  and 
rejected  as  an  almost  certain  indication  of  inferiority.  The  breed 
is  polled. 

The  Suffolk,  like  the  Norfolk  beast,  undoubtedly  sprung  from  the 
Galloway  ;  but  it  is  shorter  in  the  leg,  broader  and  rounder  than  the 
Norfolk,  with  a  greater  propensity  to  fatten,  and  reaching  to  greater 
weights. 


SUFFOT.K     COW. 


The  prevailing  and  best  colors  are  red,  red  and  white,  brindled, 
and  a  yellowish  cream  color.  The  bull  is  valued  if  he  is  of  a  pure 
unmingled  red  color. 

Exaggerated  accounts  have  been  given  of  the  milking  of  the  Suf- 
folk cow,  and  she  is  not  inferior  to  any  other  breed  in  the  quantity 
of  milk  that  she  yields.  In  the  height  of  the  season  some  of  these 
cows  will  give  as  much  as  8  gallons  of  milk  in  the  day ;  and  6  gal- 
lons is  not  an  unusual  quantity.  The  produce  of  butter,  however,  is 
not  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  milk. 

The  bulls  are  rarely  suffered  to  .!ve   after  they  are  three  yeaia 


76 


CATTLE. 


old,  however  excellent  they  may  be,  for  the  farmer  believes  that  if 
they  are  kept  longer  tliey  do  not  get  a  stock  equally  good,  and  par- 
ticularly that  their  calv^^s  are  not  so  large  after  that  period.  Nothing 
can  be  more  erroneous  or  mischievous.  A  bull  is  never  in  finer  con- 
dition than  from  four  to  seven  years  old. 

Having  obtained  by  accident,  or  by  exertion,  a  good  breed  of 
j»ilkers,  the  Suffolk  people  have  preserved  them  almost  by  mere 
chance,  and  without  any  of  the  care  and  attention  which  their  value 
demanded. 


SUFFOLK     BULL. 


The  Suffolk  cow,  poor  and  angular  as  slie  may  look,  fattens  with 
a  rapidity  greater  than  could  be  expected  from  her  gaunt  appear- 
ance. Whence  she  obtained  the  faculty  of  yielding  so  much  milk,  is 
a  question  that  no  one  has  yet  solved.  Her  progenitor,  the  Galloway, 
has  it  not.  The  Holderness  could  scarcely  be  concerned  ;  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years  ago,  the  Suffolk  dun  was  as  celebrated  as  a 
milker  as  the  breed  of  this  county  is  at  present,  and  the  Holderness 
had  not  then  been  introduced  into  the  county  of  Suffolk.  The  fat- 
tening property  derived  from  the  northern  breed  is  yet  but  little 
impaired.  The  cow  is  easily  fattened  to  forty  or  five-and-forty  stones, 
(500  to  600  lbs.)  and  the  quality  of  her  meat  is  excellent. 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE    IRISH    CATTLE. 

Before  we  enter  on  tlie  consideration  of  the  two  remaining  breeds 
of  English  cattle,  the  long  and  the  short-horns,  we  will  take  a  very- 
rapid  glance  at  the  Irish  cattle. 

They  are  evidently  composed  of  two  distinct  breeds ;  the  middle 
and  the  long-horns. 

The  middle-horns  are  plainly  an  aboriginal  breed.  They  are  found 
on  the  mountains  and  rude  parts  of  the  country,  in  almost  every 
district.  They  are  small,  light,  active,  and  wild.  The  head  is  small, 
although  there  are  exceptions  to  this  in  various  parts  ;  and  so 
numerous,  indeed,  are  those  exceptions,  that  some  describe  the  native 
Irish  cattle  as  having  thick  heads  and  necks ;  the  horns  are  short 
compared  with  the  other  breed,  all  of  them  fine,  some  of  them  rather 
upright,  and  frequently,  after  projecting  forward,  then  turning  back- 
ward. Although  somewhat  deficient  in  the  hind-quarters,  they  are 
high-boned,  and  wide  over  the  hips,  yet  the  bone  generally  is  not 
heavy.  The  hair  is  coarse  and  long  ;  they  are  black,  brindled,  and 
black  or  brindled,  with  white  faces.  Some  are  finer  in  the  bone, 
and  finer  in  the  neck,  with  a  good  eye,  and  sharp  muzzle,  and  great 
activity. 

They  are  exceedingly  hardy ;  they  live  through  the  winter,  and 
sometimes  fatten  on  their  native  mountains  and  moors;  and  when 
removed  to  a  better  climate  and  soil,  they  fatten  with  all  the  rapidity 
of  the  aboi-iginal  cattle  of  the  Highlands  and  Wales.  They  are  gene- 
rally very  good  milkers,  and  many  of  them  are  excellent.  The  cow 
of  Kerry,  a  portrait  of  which  is  here  presented,  is  a  favorable  specimen 
of  them. 

The  cow  of  Kerry  is  truly  a  poor  man's  cow,  living  everywhere 
hardy,  yielding,  for  her  size,  abundance  of  milk  of  a  good  quality,  and 
fattening  rapidly  when  required.  The  slightest  inspection  of  the 
cut  will  convince  the  reader  of  the  difference  between  this  breed 
and  both  the  larger  and  the  smaller  long-horned  Irish  one. 

These  cattle  usually  are  small,  and  are  confined  to  the  hilly  and 
moor  grounds.  Some  are  of  considerable  size,  elsewhere,  and  are 
imprcved  in  form  as  well  as  in  weight.    The  horns,  usually  of  middle 


70 


CATTLE. 


length,  turn  up  ;  as  do  the  horns  of 
they  are  shorter  in  the  leof  shorter  in 
haunches  are  heavy  and  wide  ;  although 
mellow,  and  they  thrive  with  rapidity. 


those    on   the    mountains ; 

the  body  ;  their  loins  and 
the  hair  is  thick,  the  hide  is 


KERRY    cow. 

This  breed  is  now  not  to  be  met  with  pure,  exept  inland  on  the 
mountains  ;  being  nearly  worn  out  elsewhere  by  the  repeated  crosses 
with  the  Leicester,  Hereford,  and  Devon ;  but  for  the  dairy,  all 
the  farmers  still  prefer  those  cows  with  most  of  the  native  Irish 
blood. 

The  other  breed  is  of  a  larger  size.  It  is  the  old  or  the  partially 
improved  Craven  or  Lancashire  beast.  It  is  the  true  long-horn  ;  the 
horns  first  taking  a  direction  outward,  then  forming  a  curve,  and 
returning  towards  the  face,  sometimes  threatening  to  pferce  the  bones 
of  the  nose,  at  other  times  so  to  cross  before  the  muzzle  that  the 
animal  is  unable  to  graze. 

The  following  cut  represents  this  large  variety  of  Irish  cattle',  and 
is  evidently  identical  with  the  Craven  or  Lancashire.  In  Tipperary, 
Limerick,  Meath,  a  great  part  of  Munster,  and  particularly  in  Ros- 
common, many  of  these  cattle  are  found,  which  are  most  valuable 
animals. 


I.aSH  LUNG  HORNa 


79 


Whence  tb  ^e  long-horns  criginally  came,  is  a  question.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  they  very  much  resemble  the  English  long-horns,  and 
have  been  materially  improved  by  them  ;  but  whether  Ireland  or 
England  was  the  native  country  of  this  breed,  will  never  be  deter- 
mined. Ancient  records  are  silent  on  the  subject ;  and  in  both 
countries  we  can  trace  the  long-horns  to  a  very  remote  period. 
Many  persons  have  concluded  that  the  English  long-horns  sprunor 
from  some  of  the  imported  Irish  ones.  Others,  however,  with  more 
reason,  finding  the  middle-horns  in  every  mountainous  and  unfre- 
quented part  of  the  country,  and  the  long-homs  inhabiting  the  lower 
and  more  thickly  inhabited  districts,  regard  the  middle-horns  as  the 
pure  native  breed,  and  the  long-horns  to  have  been  a  stranger  race, 
and  introduced  probably  from  Lancashire,  where  a  breed  of  cattld 
of  the  same  character  and  form  is  found. 


IRISH  CATTLE. 


However  this  may  be,  there  was  a  variety  of  circumstances  which 
rendered  the  march  of  improvement  much  more  rapid  in  England 
than  in  Ireland.  While  the  British  long-horns  had  materially  im- 
proved, those  in  Ireland  had  not  progressed  in  the  slightest  degree. 

More  than  a  century  ago,  zealous  agriculturists  in  Meath  com- 


80  BATTLE. 


menced  improvement.  Mr.  Waller  introduced  some  old  Lancashires. 
Sixty  years  afterwards,  was  brought  over  one  of  the  new  Leicester 
breed,  and  there  was  scarcely  a  cottager  near  him  that  did  not 
possess  a  cow  displaying  some  traces  of  the  Leicester  blood.  The 
Earl  of  Bective  and  Mr.  Noble  contributed  to  the  improvement  of 
the  breed  in  this  part  of  Ireland. 

About  the  same  time,  Lord  Massarene  and  others  introduced  some 
line  long-horned  cattle  into  Antrim  ;  and  Lord  Farnham  into  Ca- 
van.  In  Langford,  the  Earl  of  Rosse  ;  in  Clare,  Sir  Edward  O'Brien, 
Mr.  Doxon,  Mr.  Moloney,  and  Mr.  Blood.  In  Roscommon,  the 
Messrs.  Finch ;  and  indeed  almost  every  county  and  barony  of  Ire- 
land had  its  zealous  and  successful  improver  of  the  native  breed, 
until,  in  the  richei  and  more  cultivated  districts,  the  cattle  became  of 
as  great  a  size  and  as  perfect  form  as  any  of  the  midland  districts  of 
England. 

There  are  at  the  present  two  kinds  of  these  cattle  in  Ireland,  in 
character  essentially  difierent ;  the  larger,  which  we  have  described, 
and  a  smaller,  prevailing  principally  in  the  north  of  the  island.  At 
first  view,  perhaps,  these  would  appear  to  be  the  same  cattle,  only 
smaller  from  poor  keep  and  bad  management ;  but  their  horns,  long 
out  of  all  proportion,  clumsy  heads,  hirge  bones  and  thick  hides, 
bulkiness  of  dewlap  contrasted  with  their  lightness  of  carcass,  in  fine, 
an  accumulation  of  defects  about  them,  clearly  mark  them  as  being 
of  far  inferior  value. 

In  process  of  time,  the  Enghsh  long-horns,  although  of  the  im- 
proved Bakewell  breed,  began  to  lose  ground  even  in  their  native 
country ;  or  rather  a  rival  with  higher  merits  appeared  in  the  field. 
The  short-horns  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  breeder  ;  and 
their  propensity  to  fatten,  and  earlier  maturity,  soon  became  evident. 
There  were  not  wanting  spirited  agriculturists  in  Ireland,  who  quick- 
ly availed  themselves  of  this  new  mode  of  improving  the  Hibernian 
cattle.  Sir  Henry  Vane  Tempest  was  one  of  the  first  who  introduced 
the  short-horn  bull.  The  improvement  effected  by  the  first  cross 
was  immediately  evidei  t  in  the  early  maturity  of  the  progeny.  The 
pure  short-horn,  or  this  cross  with  the  long-horn,  weighed  as  much 
at  three  years  old  as  the  pure  long-horn  used  to  do  at  five.  But  the 
first  experiment  in  a  great  degree  failed. 

The  reputation  of  the  short-horn,  however,  becoming  more  spread 
in  England,  other  attempts  were  made  to  introduce  him  into  Ireland, 
and  the  experiments  were  more  systematically  conducted.  And 
great  improvement  has  been  effected  in  the  Irish  cattle  of  late 
years,  by  the  importation  of  the  Durham  breed.  They  have  dis- 
placed a  cross  of  the  long-horn  Leicester  on  the  Irish  cow,  and  the 
farmers  of  the  country  now  prefer  a  cross  of  the  Durham  bull  on  the 
Irish  cow,  to  the  pure  breed,  as  being  less  delicate,  and  giving  a 
richer  and  greater  quantity  of  milk. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   LONG-HORNS. 


In  the  district  of  Craven,  a  fertile  corner  of  the  West  Riding  ol 
Yorkshire,  there  has  been,  from  the  earhest  records  of  British  agri- 
culture, a  pecuhar  and  valuable  breed  of  cattle.  They  were  distin- 
guished from  the  hom.  ^-breds  of  other  counties  by  a  disproportionate 
and  frequently  unbecoming  length  of  horn.  In  the  old  breed  this 
horn  frequently  projected  nearly  horizontally  on  either  side,  but  as 
the  cattle  were  improved  the  horn  assumed  other  directions  ;  it  hung 
down  so  that  the  animal  could  scarcely  graze,  or  it  curved  so  as  to 
threaten  to  meet  before  the  muzzle,  and  so  also  as  to  prevent  the 
beast  from  grazing  ;  or  immediately  under  the  jaw,  and  so  to  lock  the 
lower  jaw  ;  or  the  points  presented  themselves  agtmist  the  bones  of 
the  nose  and  face,  threatening  to  perforate  them.  In  proportion  as 
the  breed  became  improved,  the  horns  lengthened,  and  they  are 
characteristically  distinguished  by  the  name  of  "  The  Long-Horns.'* 
Cattle  of  a  similar  description  were  found  in  the  districts  of  Lanca- 
shire bordering  on  Craven,  and  also  in  the  south-eastern  parts  of 
Westmoreland  ;  but  tradition  in  both  of  these  districts  pointed  to 
Craven  as  the  orio^inal  habitation  of  the  lonor-horn  breed.  If  there 
gradually  arose  any  difference  between  them,  it  was  that  the  Craven 
beasts  were  the  broadest  in  the  chine,  the  shortest,  the  handsomest, 
and  the  quickest  feeders  ;  the  Lancashire  ones  were  larger,  longer  in 
the  quarters,  but  with  a  fall  behind  the  shoulders,  and  not  so  level 
on  the  chine. 

Whence  these  cattle  were  derived  was  and  still  is  a  disputed  point. 

The  long  horns  seem  to  have  first  appeared  in  Craven,  and 
gradually  to  have  spread  along  the  western  coast,  and  to  have  occu- 
pied almost  exclusively  the  midland  counties. 

There  are  two  distinct  breeds  ;  the  smaller  Cravens  inhabiting  the 
mountains  and  moorlands,  hardy,  useful,  valued  by  the  cottager  and 
little  farmer  on  account  of  the  cheapness  with  which  they  are  kept, 
the  superior  quantity  and  excellent  quality  of  the  milk  which  they 
yield,  and  the  aptitude  with  which  they  fatten  when  removed  to 
better  pasture.  The  larger  Cravens,  occupying  a  more  level  and 
richer  pasture,  arc  fair  milliers,  aHhough  in  proportion  to  their  size 
4* 


32 


CATTLE. 


not  equal  to  the  others ;  but  possess  a  tendency  to  fatten  and  acquire 
extraordinary  bulk,  scarcely  inferior  to  that  of  short-horns. 

As  either  of  these  found  their  way  to  other  districts,  they  mingled 
to  a  greater  or  less  degree  with  the  native  cattle,  or  they  felt  the 
influence  of  change  of  climate  and  soil,  and  gradually  adapted  them- 
selves to  their  new  situation  ;  and  each  assumed  a  peculiarity  of  form 
whicli  characterized  it  as  belonging  to  a  certain  district,  and  rendered 
it  valuable  and  almost  perfect  there.  The  Cheshire,  the  Derbyshire, 
the  Nottinghamshire,  the  Staffordshire,  the  Oxfordshire,  and  the 
Wiltshire  cattle  were  all  essentially  long-horns,  but  each  had  its  dis- 
tinguishing feature,  which  seemed  best  to  fit  it  for  its  situation,  and 
the  purposes  for  which  it  was  bred.  Having  assumed  a  decided 
character,  vaiying  only  with  peculiar  local  circumstances,  the  old 
long-horns,  like  the  Devons,  the  Herefords,  and  the  Scotch,  continued 
nearly  the  same.  There  is  no  authentic  detail  of  their  distinguishing 
points.  From  hmts  given  by  old  Avi-iters,  we  may  conclude  that  some 
of  them  at  least  were  characterized  by  their  roundness  and  length  of 
••-arcass,  coarseness  of  bone,  thickness  and  yet  mellowness  of  hide,  and 
he  rich  quahty  although  not  abundant  quantity  of  theu-  milk. 


OLD  GRAVEN  LOXG-IIORX   BULL. 


THE  LONG-HORNS. 


Here  were  evident  materials  for  some  skillful  breeder  to  work  upon ; 
a  connection  of  excellencies  and  defects  by  no  means  inseparable.  That 
which  was  good  might  be  rendered  more  valuable,  and  the  alloy- 
might  be  easily  thrown  off.  It  was  not,  however,  until  about  the 
year  1720  that  any  agriculturist  possessed  sufficient  science  and 
spirit  to  attempt  improvement  in  good  earnest.  A  blacksmith  and 
farrier,  of  Linton,  in  Derbyshire,  on  ihe  very  borders  of  Leicestershire, 
who  rented  a  little  farm,  has  the  honor  of  standing  first  on  the  list. 
His  name  was  Welby.  He  had  a  valuable  breed  of  cows,  which, 
came  from  Drakelow  house,  a  seat  of  Sir  Thomas  Gresley,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Trent,  about  a  mile  from  Burton.  He  prided  himself 
much  in  them,  and  they  deserved  the  care  which  he  took  in  improving 
them  and  keeping  the  breed  pure ;  but  a  disease,  which  defied  all 
remedial  measures,  carried  off  the  greater  part  of  them,  thus  half 
ruining  Welby,  and  putting  a  stop  to  his  speculations. 

Soon  after  this  Mr.  Webster,  of  Canley,  near  Coventry,  distinguiBhed 
himself  as  a  breeder.  He  too  worked  upon  Sir  Thomas  Gresley's 
stock,  some  of  whose  cows  he  brought  with  him  when  he  first  settled 
at  Canley.  He  procured  bulk  from  Lancashu-e  and  Westmoreland, 
and  is  said  to  have  had  the  best  «;tock  of  cattle  then  known.  One  of 
his  admirers  says  that  *'  he  possessed  the  best  stock,  especially  of 
beace,  that  ever  were,  or  ever  will  be  bred  in  the  kingdom."  This  is 
high  praise,  and  is  evidence  of  the  excellent  quaUty  of  Mr.  Webster's 
breed. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  such  meagre  accounts  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  early  improvers  of  cattle.  Little  more  is 
known  of  Mr.  Webster  than  that  he  established  the  Canley  breed, 
some  portion  of  whose  blood  flowed  in  every  •  improved  long-horn 
beast. 

The  bull,  Bloxedge,  (the  Hubback  of  the  long-horns,)  indebted  to 
accident  for  the  discovery  of  his  value,  was  out  of  a  three-year  old 
heifer  of  Mr.  Webster's,  by  a  Lancashire  bull,  belonging  to  a  neigh- 
bor. When  a  yearling,  he  was  so  unpromising  that  he  was  discarded 
and  sold  to  a  person  of  the  name  of  Bloxedge,  (hence  the  name  of 
the  beast,)  but  turning  out  a  remarkably  good  stock-getter,  Mr. 
W^ebster  re-purchased  him,  and  used  him  for  several  seasons. 

Now  appeared  the  chief  improver  of  the  long-horns,  to  whom 
his  cotemporaries  and  posterity  have  adjudged  the  merit  of  creating 
as  it  were  a  new  breed  of  cattle.  It  is  a  diso-race  to  the  acfiiculture 
of  the  times  that  Bakewell  should  have  been  suffered  to  pass  away 
without  some  authentic  record  of  the  principles  that  guided  him,  and 
the  means  by  which  his  objects  were  accomplished. 

The  only  memoir  we  have  of  Robert  Bakewell  is  a  fugitive  paper 
in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine,  from  which  every  writer  has  borrowed. 
Robert  Bakewell  was  born  at  Dishley,  in  Leicestershire,  about  1725. 
Having  remarked  that  domestic  animals  in  general  produced  others 


64  CATTLE. 

possessing  qualities  nearly  similar  to  their  cwn,  he  conceived  that  he 
had  only  to  select  from  the  most  valuable  breeds  such  as  promised 
to  return  the  greatest  possible  emolument,  and  that  he  should  then 
be  able,  by  careful  attention  to  progressive  improvement,  to  produce 
a  breed  whence  he  could  derive  a  maximum  of  advantage.  He 
made  excursions  into  different  parts  of  England,  in  order  to  inspect 
the  different  breeds,  and  to  select  those  that  were  best  adapted  to  his 
purpose,  and  the  most  valuable  of  their  kind ;  and  his  residence  and 
his  early  liabits  disposed  him  to  give  the  preference  to  the  long-horn 
cattle. 

We  have  no  account  of  the  precise  principles  which  guided  him 
in  the  various  selections  which  he  made ;  but  Mr.  Marshall,  who  says 
that  he  **  was  repeatedly  favored  with  opportunities  of  making  ample 
observations  on  Mr.  Bakewell's  practice,  and  with  liberal  communica- 
tions from  him  on  all  rural  subjects,"  gives  us  some  clue.  He  speaks 
ojt  the  general  principles  of  breeding,  and  when  he  does  this  in  con- 
nection with  the  name  of  Bakewell,  we  shall  not  be  very  wrong  in 
concluding  that  these  were  the  principles  by  which  that  great  agri- 
culturist was  influenced. 

"  The  most  general  principle  is  beauty  of  form.  It  is  observable, 
however,  that  this  principle  was  more  closely  attended  to  at  the  out- 
set of  improvement  (under  an  idea,  in  some  degree  falsely  grounded, 
that  the  beauty  of  form  and  utility  are  inseparable)  than  at  present, 
when  men,  who  have  long  been  conversant  in  practice,  make  a  dis- 
tinction between  a  "  useful  sort "  and  a  sort  which  is  merely  "  hand- 
some." 

"  The  next  principle  attended  to  is  a  proportion  of  parts,  or  what 
may  be  called  utility  of  form,  in  distinction  from  beauty  of  form ; 
thus  the  parts  which  are  deemed  offal,  or  which  bear  an  inferior 
price  at  market,  should  be  small  in  proportion  to  the  better  parts. 

**  A  third  principle  of  improvement  is  the  texture  of  the  muscular 
parts,  or  what  is  termed  flesh,  a  quality  of  live  stock  which,  familiar 
as  it  may  long  have  been  to  the  butcher  and  the  consumer,  had  not 
been  sufficiently  attended  to  by  breeders,  whatever  it  might  have 
been  by  graziers.  This  principle  involved  the  fact  that  the  grain  of 
the  meat  depended  wholly  on  the  breed,  and  not,  as  had  been  before 
considered,  on  the  size  of  the  animal.  But  the  principle  which 
engrossed  the  greatest  share  of  attention,  and  which,  above  all  others, 
is  entitled  to  the  grazier's  attention,  is  fattening  quality,  or  a  natural 
propensity  to  acquire  a  state  cf  fatness  at  an  early  age,  when  in 
full  keep,  and  in  a  short  space  of  time  ;  a  quality  which  is  clearly 
found  to  be  hereditary." 

Therefore,  in  Bakewell's  opinion,  everything  depended  on  breed  ; 
and  the  beauty  and  utility  of  the  form,  the  quality  of  the  flesh,  and 
the  propensity  to  fatness,  were,  in  the  offspring,  the  natural  conse- 
quence of  similar  quahties  in  the  parents.     His  whole  attention  W5»i 


THE    LEICESTER   LONG-HORNS 


centered  in  these  four  points ;  and  he  never  forgot  that  they  -were 
compatible  with  each  other,  and  might  be  occasionally  found  united 
in  the  same  individual. 

Improvement  had  hitherto  been  attempted  by  selecting  females 
from  the  native  stock  of  the  country,  and  crossing  them  with  males 
of  an  alien  breed.  Mr.  Bakewell's  good  sense  led  him  to  imagine 
that  the  object  might  better  be  accomplished  by  uniting  the  superior 
branches  of  the  same  breed,  than  by  any  mixture  of  foreign  ones. 

On  this  new  and  judicious  principle  he  started.  He  purchased 
two  long-horn  heifers  from  Mr.  Webster,  and  he  procured  a  promis- 
ing long-horn  bull  from  Westmoreland.  To  these,  and  their  progeny, 
he  confined  himself ;  couphng  them  as  he  thought  he  could  best  in- 
crease or  establish  some  excellent  point,  or  speedily  remove  a  faulty 
one. 

As  his  stock  increased,  he  was  enabled  to  avoid  the  injurious 
and  enervating  consequence  of  breeding  too  closely  "in  and  in." 
The  breed  was  the  same,  but  he  could  interpose  a  remove  or  two 
between  the  members  of  the  same  family.  He  could  preserve  all 
the  excellences  of  the  breed,  without  the  danger  of  deterioration; 
and  the  rapidity  of  the  improvement  which  he  effected  was  only 
equaled  by  its  extent. 

Many  years  did  not  pass  before  his  stock  was  unrivaled  for  the 
roundness  of  its  form,  and  the  smallness  of  its  bone,  and  its  aptitude 
to  acquire  external  fat ;  while  they  were  small  consumers  of  food  in 
proportion  to  their  size  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  their  qualities  as 
milkers  were  very  considerably  lessened.  The  grazier  could  not  too 
highly  value  the  Dishley,  or  new  Leicester  long-horn,  but  the  dairy- 
man, and  the  little  farmer,  clung  to  the  old  breed,  as  most  useful 
for  their  purpose. 

It  was  his  grand  maxim,  that  the  bones  of  an  animal  intended  for 
food  could  not  be  too  small,  and  that  the  fat,  being  the  most  valua- 
ble part  of  the  carcass,  could,  consequently,  not  be  too  abundant.  In 
pursuance  of  this  leading  theory,  by  inducing  a  preternatural  small- 
ness of  bone,  and  rotundity  of  carcass,  he  sought  to  cover  the  bones 
of  all  his  animals,  externally,  with  masses  of  fat.  Thus,  the  entirely 
new  Leicester  breed,  from  their  excessive  tendency  to  fatten,  produce 
too  small  a  quantity  of  eatable  meat,  and  that,  too,  necessarily  of  in- 
ferior flavor  and  quality.  They  are  in  general  found  defective  in 
weight,  proportionably  to  their  bulk,  and,  if  not  thoroughly  fattened, 
their  flesh  is  crude  and  without  flavor ;  while,  if  they  be  so,  their 
carcasses  produce  little  else  but  fat,  a  very  considerable  part  of 
which  must  be  sold  at  an  inferior  price,  to  make  candles  instead  of 
food,  not  to  forget  the  very  great  waste  that  must  ever  attend  the 
consumption  of  over-fattened  meat. 

This  great  and  sagacious  improver,  very  justly  disgusted  at  the 
iight  of  those  huge,  gaunt,  leggy,  and  misshapen  animals  with  which 


as  CATTLE. 


his  ricinity  abounded,  and  which  scarcely  any  length  of  time  or 
quantity  of  food  would  thoroughly  fatten,  determined  upon  raising  a 
more  sightly  and  a  more  profitable  breed  ;  yet,  rather  unfortunately, 
his  zeal  impelled  him  to  the  opposite  extreme.  Having  carefully, 
and  at  much  cost,  raised  a  variety  of  cattle,  the  chief  merit  of  which 
is  to  make  fat,  he  has  apparently  laid  his  disciples  and  successors 
under  the  necessity  of  substituting  another  that  will  make  lean. 

Mr.  Bakewell  had  many  prejudices  opposed  to  him,  and  many 
difficulties  to  surmount,  and  it  is  not  therefore  to  be  wondered  at  if 
he  was  more  than  once  involved  in  considerable  embarrassment ;  but 
he  hved  to  see  the  perfect  success  of  his  undertaking. 

He  died  when  verging  on  his  seventieth  year.  His  countenance 
bespoke  activity  and  a  high  degree  of  benevolence.  His  manners 
were  frank  and  pleasing,  and  well  calculated  to  maintain  the  exten- 
sive popularity  he  had  acquired.  His  hospitality  to  strangers  was 
bounded  only  by  his  means. 

Many  anecdotes  are  related  of  his  humanity  towards  the  various 
tribes  of  animals  under  his  management.  He  would  not  suffer  the 
slightest  act  of  cruelty  to  be  perpetrated  by  any  of  his  servants,  and 
he  sternly  deprecated  the  barbarities  practised  by  butchers  and  dro- 
vers ;  showing,  by  examples  on  his  own  farm,  the  most  pleasing  in- 
stances of  docility  in  every  animal. 

Mr.  Bakewell's  celebrated  bull  Twopenny  was  the  produce  of  the 
Westmoreland  bull,  out  of  old  Comely,  one  of  the  two  heifers  pur- 
chased from  Mr.  Webster ;  therefore  he  was,  by  the  side  of  his  dam, 
a  direct  descendant  of  the  Canley  blood. 

Mr.  Bakewell  had  afterwards  a  more  valuable  bull  than  this, 
named  D.  He  retained  him  principally  for  his  own  use,  except  that 
he  was  let  for  part  of  a  season  to  Mr.  Fowler,  and  that  a  few  cows 
were  brought  to  him  .it  five  guineas  a  cow.  He  was  got  by  a  son 
of  Twopenny,  out  of  a  daughter  and  sister  of  the  same  bull,  she  be- 
ing the  produce  of  his  own  dam. 

Starting  a  few  years  afterwards,  and  rivaling  Mr  Bakewell  in  the 
value  of  his  cattle,  was  Mr.  Fowler  of  Rollwright,  in  Oxfordshire. 
His  cows  were  of  the  Canley  breed  ;  most  of  them  having  been  pur- 
chased from  Mr.  Bakewell ;  and  his  bull  Shakspeare,  the  best  stock- 
getter  that  the  long-horn  breed  ever  possessed,  was  got  by  D,  out  of 
a  daughter  of  Twopenny,  and  therefore  of  pure  Canley  blood. 

Mr.  Marshall  gives  the  following  description  of  this  bull,  and  very 
interesting  and  instructive  it  is.  It  is  a  beautiful  explication  of 
some  of  the  grand  principles  of  breeding.  "  This  bull  is  a  striking 
specimen  of  what  naturalists  term  accidental  varieties.  Though  bred 
in  the  manner  that  has  been  mentioned,  he  scarcely  inherits  a  single 
point  of  the  long-horned  breed,  his  horns  excepted.  In  1784,  then 
six  years  old,  and  somewhat  below  his  usual  condition,  though  hy 
BO  means  low  in  flesh,  he  was  of  this  description. 


THE   LEICESTER   LONG-HORNS.  S7 

"  His  head,  chap  and  neck  remarkably  fine  and  clean  ;  his  chest 
extraordinarily  deep — his  brisket  down  to  his  knees.  His  chine  thin, 
and  rising  above  the  shoulder-blades,  leaving  a  hollow  on  each  side 
behind  them.  His  loin,  of  course,  narrow  at  the  chine  ;  but  remark- 
ably wide  at  the  hips,  which  protuberate  in  a  singular  manner.  His 
quarters  long  in  reality,  but  in  appearance  short,  occasioned  by  a 
singular  formation  of  the  rump.  At  first  sight  it  appears  as  if  the 
tail,  which  stands  forward,  had  been  severed,  one  of  the  vertebrae 
extracted,  and  the  tail  forced  up  to  make  good  the  joint ;  an  appear- 
ance, which,  on  examining,  is  occasioned  by  some  remarkable 
wreaths  of  fat  formed  round  the  setting  on  of  the  tail ;  a  circum- 
stance which  in  a  picture  would  be  a  deformity,  but  as  a  point  is 
in  the  highest  estimation.  The  round  bones  snug,  but  the  thighs 
rather  full  and  remarbably  let  down.  The  legs  short  and  their 
bone  fine.  The  carcass,  throughout,  (the  chine  excepted)  large, 
roomy,  deep,  and  well  spread. 

"  His  horns  apart,  he  had  every  point  of  a  Holderness  or  a  Tees- 
water  bull.  Could  his  horns  have  been  changed,  he  would  have 
passed  in  Yorkshire  as  an  ordinary  bull  of  either  of  those  breeds. 
His  two  ends  would  have  been  thought  tolerably  good,  but  his 
middle  very  deficient ;  but  being  put  to  cows  deficient  where  he 
was  full,  (the  lower  part  of  the  thigh  excepted,)  and  full  where  he 
was  deficient,  he  has  raised  the  long-horned  breed  to  a  degree  of 
perfection  which,  without  so  extraordinary  a  prodigy,  they  never 
might  have  reached." 

No  wonder  that  a  form  so  uncommon  should  strike  the  improv- 
ers of  this  breed  of  stock,  or  that  points  they  had  been  so  long 
striving  in  vain  to  produce  should  be  rated  at  a  high  price.  His 
owner  was  the  first  to  estimate  his  worth,  and  could  never  be  in- 
duced to  part  with  him  except  to  Mr.  Princep,  who  hired  him  for 
two  seasons,  at  the  then  unusual  price  of  eighty  guineas  a  season. 
He  covered  until  he  was  ten  years  old,  but  then  became  paralytic 
and  useless. 

At  a  public  sale  of  Mr.  Fowler's  cattle,  1791,  the  following  prices 
were  given  for  some  of  the  favorite  beasts — a  suflScient  proof  ot 
the  estimation  in  which  the  improved  Leicesters  were  then  held  : 

Bulls. — Garrick,  five  years  old,  £250  ;  Sultan,  two  years  old,  £230  ; 
Washington,  two  years  old,  £215  ;  A,  by  Garrick,  one  year  old, 
£157;  Young  Sultan,  one  year  old,  .-£210;  E  by  Garrick,  one 
year  old,  £152. 

Cows. — Brindled  Beauty,  by  Shakspeare,  £273  ;  Sister  to,Gamck, 
£120 ;  Nell,  bv  Garrick,  £136  ;  Young  Nell,  by  brother  of  Garrick, 
£126  ;  Black  Heifer,  £141  ;  Dam  of  Washington,  £l94.  Fifty  breed 
of  cattle  produced  £4,289  45.  Qd. 

Another  improver  of  the  long-horns  was  Mr.  Princep  of  Croxall,  in 
Derbyshire.     He  was  supposed  at  that  time  to  have  the   best  dau-y 


CATTLE 


of  long-horn  cows  in  the  whole  of  the  midland  counties.  He  origi- 
nally bred  them  from  a  cow  of  the  name  of  Bright,  who  was  got  by 
Mr.  Webster's  Bloxedge,  the  father  of  the  Canley  blood,  and  he  much 
improved  his  breed  through  the  medium  of  Shakspeare.  It  was 
remarked,  that  every  cow  and  heifer  of  the  Shakspeare  blood  could 
be  recognized  at  first  sight  as  a  descendant  of  his. 

What  was  the  result  of  all  these  combined  efforts  ?  Was  a  breed 
produced  worthy  of  the  talents  and  zeal  of  all  these  skillful  agricul- 
turists ?  On  the  Leicestershire  cattle,  and  in  particular  districts  in 
the  neighboring  counties,  the  change  was  great  and  advantageous,  so 
far  as  the  grazing  and  fattening,  and  especially  the  early  maturity  of 
the  animals,  were  concerned. 


z,^p^' 


NEW    LEICESTER    LONG-HORN    BULL 


What  is  now  become  of  this  improved  long-horn  breed  ?  Where 
is  it  to  be  found  ?  It  was  a  bold  and  a  successful  experiment.  It 
seemed  for  a  while  to  answer  the  most  sanguine  expectation  of  these 
scientific  and  spirited  breeders.  In  the  districts  in  which  the  experi- 
ments were  carried  on,  it  established  a  breed  of  cattle  equaled  by 
few,  and  excelled  by  none  but  the  Herefords.  It  enabled  the  long- 
horns  to  contend,  and  often  successfully,  with  the  heaviest  and  best 


THE    LEICESTER   LONG- HORNS. 


of  the  middle-horns.  It  did  more  ;  it  improved,  and  that  to  a 
material  degree,  the  whole  breed  of  long-horns.  The  Lancashire,  the 
Derbyshire,  the  Staffordshire  cattle  became,  and  still  are,  an  improved 
race  ;  they  got  rid  of  a  portion  of  their  coarse  bone.  They  began  to 
gain  their  flesh  and  fat  on  the  more  profitable  points,  they  acquii-ed  a 
somewhat  earlier  maturity,  and,  the  process  of  improvement  not  being 
carried  too  far,  the  very  dairy-cattle  obtained  a  disposition  to  convert 
their  ahment  into  milk  while  milk  was  wanted,  and,  after  that,  to  use 
the  same  nutriment  for  the  accumulation  of  flesh  and  fat.  The  mid- 
land counties  will  always  have  occasion  to  associate  a  feeling  of 
respect  and  gratitude  with  the  name  of  Bakewell. 


NEW    LEICESTER    LOXG-HORN    COW. 


Mr.  Marshall  thus  describes  the  improved  Leicesters  in  his  own 
time,  which  was  that  of  Bakewell,  Princep,  and  Fowler. 

"  The  forend  long  ;  but  light  to  a  degree  of  elegance.  The  neck 
thin,  the  chap  clean,  the  head  fine,  but  long  and  tapering. 

"  The  eye  large,  bright  and  prominent. 

"  The  horns  vary  with  the  sex,  &c.  Those  of  bulls  are  compara- 
tively short,  from  fifteen  inches  to  two  feet ;  those  of  the  few  oxen  that 
have  been  reared  of  this  breed  are  extremely  large,  being  from  two 
and  a  half  to  three  and  a  half  feet  long  ;  those  of  the  cows  nearly  as 
long,  but  muck  finer,  tapering  to  delicately  fine  points.     Most  of  them 


90  CATTLE. 


hang  downward  by  the  side  of  the  cheeks,  and  then,  if  well  turned, 
as  many  of  the  cows  are,  shoot  forward  at  the  points. 

"  The  shoulders  remarkably  fine  and  thin,  in  bone ;  but  thickly 
covered  with  flesh — not  the  smallest  protuberance  of  bone. 

"  The  girth  small,  compai-ed  with  the  short-horn  and  middle-horn 
breeds. 

**  The  chine  remarkably  full  when  fat,  but  hollow  when  low  in  con- 
dition." 

This  is  considered  by  accurate  judges  to  be  a  criterion  of  good 
mellow  flesh.  The  large  hard  ligaments,  (the  continuation  of  the 
ligaments  of  the  neck,  united  with  those  of  the  vertebrae  of  the  spine 
itself,)  which  in  some  individuals,  when  in  low  condition,  stretch 
tightly  along  the  chine,  from  the  setting  on  of  the  neck  to  the  fore 
part  of  the  loins,  is  said  to  be  a  mark  of  the  flesh  being  of  a  bad 
quality.  They  are  only  proofs  of  great  strength  in  the  spine,  and, 
probably,  in  the  animal  generally ;  and  indicating  that  the  meat  will 
be  sinewy  and  tough. 

"  The  loin  broad,  and  the  hip  remarkably  wide  and  protuberant." 

A  wide  loin,  with  projections  of  fat  on  the  hips,  may  be  desirable ; 
but  there  can  be  neither  beauty  nor  use  in  the  protuberance  of  the 
tuberosities  of  the  bone.  A  full  hip  may  be  of  advantage,  but 
scarcely  a  protuberant  one. 

"  The  quarters  long  and  level ;  the  nache  of  a  middle  width,  and 
the  tail  set  on  variously,  even  in  individuals  of  the  highest  repute. 

**  The  round-hones  small,  but  tlie  thighs  in  general  fleshy  ;  tapering, 
however,  when  in  the  best  form  toward  the  gambrels. 

"  The  legs  small  and  clean,  but  comparatively  long.  The  feH  in 
general  neat,  and  of  the  middle  size. 

**  The  carcass  as  nearly  a  cylinder  as  the  natural  form  will  allow. 
The  rihs  standing  out  full  from  the  spine.     The  belly  small. 

**  The  Jlesh  seldom  fails  of  being  of  the  first  quality. 

*'  The  hide  of  a  middle  thickness. 

**  The  color  various ;  the  brindle,  the  finch-back,  and  the  pye,  are 
common.     The  lighter,  the  better  they  are  esteemed. 

*'  The  fattening  quality  of  this  improved  breed,  in  a  state  of  ma- 
turity, is  indisputably  good. 

"  As  grazier  s  stock,  they  undoubtedly  rank  high.  The  principle 
of  the  utilitTj  of  form  has  been  strictly  attended  to.  The  bone  and 
offal  are  small,  and  the  forend  light ;  while  the  chine,  the  loin,  the 
rump  and  the  ribs  are  heavily  loaded,  and  with  flesh  of  the  finest 
quality.  In  point  of  early  maturity,  they  have  also  materially 
gained.  In  general,  they  have  gained  a  year  in  preparation  for  the 
butcher ;  and  although  perhaps  not  weighing  so  heavy  as  they  did 
before,  the  little  diminution  of  weight  is  abundantly  compensated,  by 
the  superior  excellence  of  the  meat,  its  earlier  readiness  and  the 
smaller  quantity  of  food  consumed. 


THE  LEICESTER   LONG-HORNS. 


»1 


**  As  dairy -stocTc,  it  does  not  admit  of  doubt  that  their  milking  quali- 
ties have  been  very  much  impaired. 

*'  As  beasts  of  draught,  their  general  form  renders  them  unfit;  yet 
many  of  them  are  suflBciently  powerful,  and  they  are  more  active 
than  some  other  breeds  used  for  the  plough,  or  on  the  road  ;  but 
the  horns  generally  form  an  insuperable  objection  to  this  use  of 
them." 


THE    LONG-HORX    FEEDING    OX. 


But  what  is  become  of  Bakewell's  improved  long-horn  breed  ?  A 
veil  of  myster}^  was  thrown  over  most  of  his  proceedings,  which  not 
even  his  friend  Mr.  Marshall  was  disposed  to  raise.  The  principle 
on  which  he  seemed  to  act,  breeding  so  completely  "  in  and  in"  was 
a  novel,  a  bold,  and  a  successful  one.  Some  of  the  cattle  to  which 
we  have  referred  were  very  extraordinary  illustrations,  not  only  of 
the  harmle  isness,  but  the  manifest  advantage  of  such  a  system ;  but 
he  had  a  large  stock  on  which  to  work  ;  and  no  one  knew  his  occa- 
sional deviations  from  this  rule,  nor  his  skillful  interpositions  of  remoter 
aflBnities,  when  he  saw  or  apprehended  danger. 

The  truth  of  the  matter  is,  that  the  master  spirits  of  that  day  had 
no  sooner  disappeared,  than  the  character  of  this  breed  began  imper- 
ceptibly to  change.  It  had  acquired  a  delicacy  of  constitution,  in- 
consistent with  common  management  and  keep ;  and  it  beo-an  slowly, 
but  undeniably,  to  deteriorate.     Many  of  them  had  been  bred  to  that 


92 


CATTLE. 


degree  of  refinement,  that  the  propagation  (<f  the  species  was  not 
always  certain. 

In  addition  to  this,  a  powerful  rival  appeared  in  the  field,  the 
short-horns  of  the  Tees.  They  presented  equal  aptitude  to  fatten, 
and  greater  bulk  and  earlier  maturity. 

"Westmoreland  was  the  native  land  of  the  long-horns.  Webster 
brought  thence  the  father  of  the  Canley  stock  ;  and  Bakewell  sought 
the  father  of  liis  breed  there :  bat  even  in  Westmoreland  the  short- 
horns appeared  ;  they  spread  ;  they  established  themselves  ;  in  a  man- 
ner superseded  the  long-horas.  They  found  their  way  to  southern 
districts  ;  they  mingled  with  the  native  breeds ;  a  cross  from  them 
generally  bestowed  increase  of  milk,  aptitude  to  fatten,  and  early 
maturity.  It  is  true,  that  a  frequent  recourse  to  the  short-horn  was 
generally  necessary  in  order  to  retain  these  advantages,  but  these 
advantages  were  bestowed,  and  might  be  retained,  except  in  a  few 
districts,  and  for  some  particular  purposes.  Thus  they  gradually 
established  themselves  everywhere  ;  they  were  the  grazing  cattle  of 
the  large  farmer  and  the  gentleman,  and  another  variety  of  them 
occupied  the  dairy.  The  benefits  conferred  by  the  improved  long- 
horns  remained,  but  the  bi  eed  itself  gradually  diminished ;  in  some 
places  it  almost  disappeared  ;  and  at  the  present  moment,  and  even 
in  Leicestershire,  the  short-horns  are  fast  driving  the  long-horns  from 

the  field. 

DERBYSHIRE. 


DERBY    cow. 


THE    DERBY   BREEl 


The  preceding  cut  is  a  faithful  portrait  of  one  of  the  best  of  them. 
The  horns  are  altogether  characteristic. 

The  Derbyshire  cows  were  originally  long-horns ;  and  although  of 
a  somewhat  inferior  breed,  they  were  very  useful  animals,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  dairies  of  this  county,  the  cheese  of  which  has  -long  been 
admired.  What  cross  gave  them  their  peculiar  character,  and  espe- 
cially their  singular  horns,  it  is  now  impossible  to  determine.  The 
head  was  frequently  thick  and  heavy,  the  chops  and  neck  foul,  the 
bone  too  large,  the  hide  heavy,  and  the  hair  long ;  even  the  bag  was 
often  overgrown  and  covered  with  hair — a  circumstance  very  objec- 
tionable to  the  dairyman ;  they  were  little  disposed  to  take  on  flesh 
and  fat,  yet  they  were  excellent  dairy  cows. 


DEKBY    BULL. 


This  cut  gives  a  faitliful  representation  of  the  old  Derby  bull. 
This  breed,  however,  has  gradually  died  away,  and  it  is  comparatively 
seldom  that  a  pure  Derby  can  now  be  met  witJi.  The  short-horns 
have  taken  possession  of  this  portion  of  the  territory  of  the  long-horns 
also,  and  there  are  few  dairy  farmers  now,  and  especially  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Derby,  that  have  any  long  horns  in  their  dairies ; 
and  yet  it  is  confidently  asserted  that  some  cows  of  the  ancient 
stock  have  yielded  as  much  as  seventeen  pounds  of  butter  in  a 
week. 


04 


CATTLE. 


THE  SHROPSHIRE  CATTLE. 

The  old  Shropshire  cattle,  with  a  cut  of  one  of  which  we  are 
enabled  to  present  our  readers,  was  of  a  long-horn  hardy  kind — of 
all  colors,  but  generally  brown  mixed  with  bay  and  white,  and  with 
a  streak  t>f  white  running  along  the  back  and  under  the  belly.  They 
were  raw-boned,  cow-legged,  and  far  from  being  handsome.  They 
were,  however,  good  milkers  and  fit  for  the  dairy. 


THE    OLD    SnUOFSIIlRfc:    OX. 


Very  few  of  the  old  sort  are  now  left,  but  a  cross  between  the 
Shropshire  and  the  Holderness  has  been  established,  by  which  in- 
crease of  size  has  been  obtained,  hardihood,  and  a  greater  quantity 
of  milk.  They  are  very  docile ;  and  when  red  or  spotted  they  are 
in  great  request :  the  spotted  are  accounted  the  most  valuable. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  SHORT-HOKNS. 

This  account  of  the  Short-Horns  is  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Berry, 
than  whom  there  were  few  more  zealous  breeders  of  cattle. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  short-horns  present  themselves  to 
notice  under  circumstances  of  peculiar  interest.  Possessing  in  an 
eminent  degree  qualities  which  have  generally  been  considered  in- 
compatible, and  attractive  to  the  eye  by  their  splendid  frames  and 
beautifully  varied  colors,  it  is  not  surprising  that  they  have  become 
objects  of  pubhc  curiosity  ;  that  they  have  reahzed  for  their  breeders 
enormous  sums  ;  and  that,  in  our  own  island,  and  in  every  foreign 
country  where  agriculture  is  attended  to,  they  are  in  increasing  de- 
mand. 

It  might  tend  to  throw  much  light  on  the  science  of  breeding, 
could  these  animals  be  traced,  in  their  improvement,  to  an  earlier 
period  than  has  been  found  possible. 

From  the  earliest  periods  as  to  which  we  have  any  accounts  of  our 
breeds  of  cattle,  the  counties  of  Durham  and  York  have  been  cele- 
brated for  their  short-horas,  but  principally,  in  the  first  instance,  on 
account  of  their  reputation  as  extraordinary  milkers,*  It  may  be 
asserted,  on  the  best  evidence,  that,  as  a  breed,  they  have  never  in 
this  particular  been  equaled.  They  were  generally  of  large  size, 
thin-skinned,  sleek-haired,  bad  handlers,  rather  delicate  in  constitu- 
tion, coarse  in  the  offal,  and  strikingly  defective  in  girth  in  the  fore- 
quarters.  As  milkers,  they  were  most  excellent ;  but  when  put  to 
fatten,  were  found  slow  feeders ;  producing  an  inferior  meat,  not 
marbled  or  mixed  fat  and  lean,  and  in  some  cases  the  lean  was  found 
of  a  particularly  dark  hue. 

A  period  of  more  than  one  hundred  years  has  now  elapsed  since 
the  short-horns,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Tees,  hence  called  the 
Teeswater  breed,  had  assumed  a  very  different  character  to  the  fore- 

*  Before  this  a  large  and  valuable  description  of  cattle  had  existed  on  the  western 
coast  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  and  extending  from  Denmark  to  the  confines  of 
France.  They  were  celebrated  for  the  great  quantities  of  milk  which  they  yielded, 
and  some  of  them  exhibited  an  extraordinary  aptitude  to  fatten.  At  what  particular 
time  they  found  their  way  to  England,  or  by  whom  they  were  imported,  is  unknown] 
hut  there  is  a  tradition  that,  towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  a  bull  and 
tome  00W8  were  introduced  into  Holdemess. — Yovait. 


96  CATTLE. 

going  description.  In  color,  they  resembled  the  short-horns  of  the 
present  day,  being  occasionally  red,  red  and  white,  and  roan,  though 
the  last  not  then  so  prevalent 'as  now.  They  possessed  a  fine  mellow 
skin  and  flesh,  good  hair,  and  light  ofFal,  particularly  wide  carcasses, 
and  fore-quarters  of  extraordinary  depth  and  capacity.  When 
slaughtered,  their  proof  was  extraordinary,  and  many  instances  are 
"recorded  of  the  wonderful  weight  of  their  inside  fat. 


AN    OLD    STYLE    TEESWATER    BULL. 

The  remarkable  merit  which  existed  in  the  Teeswater  may, 
with  propriety,  be  ascribed  to  a  spirit  of  improvement  which  had 
some  time  manifested  itself  among  the  breeders  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tees,  whose  laudable  efforts  were  well  seconded  by  the  very  superior 
laid  in  the  vicinity  of  that  river.  No  doubt  can  be  entertained  that 
they  proceeded  on  a  judicious  system  of  crossing  with  other  breeds, 
because  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  raise  such  a  stock  as  the  Tees- 
water  from  pure  short-horn  blood.  One  cross  to  which  they  referred 
was,  in  all  probability,  the  white  wild  breed  ;  and  if  this  conjectuie 
be  well-founded,  it  will  be  apparent  whence  the  short-horns  derived 
a  color  so  prevalent  among  them. 

It  is  also  asserted  that,  about  the  period  in  question.  Sir  William 
St.  Quintin,  of  Scampston,  imported  bulls  and  cows  from  Holland, 
which  were  crossed  mi\  the  stock  of  the  country.     It  would  tend  tc 


THE  SHORT-HORNS  97 


little  advantage  to  conjecture  as  to  what  other  breeds  were  resorted 
to,  if  any :  this  much  is  certain,  that  great  improvement  was  soon 
manifested,  and  a  valuable  variety  established,  as  the  two  following 
instances  will  prove. 

Mr.  Milbank,  of  Barmingham,  bred  and  slaughtered  an  ox,  which, 
at  five  years  old,  weighed  four  quarters,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
stones,  (2114  lbs.)  of  fourteen  pounds  to  the  stone,  producing  six- 
teen stones  of  tallow  ;  and  a  cow  bred  from  his  stock,  slaughtered 
by  Mr.  Sharter,  of  Chilton,  at  twelve  years  old,  weighed  upwards  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  stones.   (1540  lbs.) 

From  Mr.  Milbank's  time,  the  Teeswater  cattle  continued  to  sus- 
tain their  excellence  and  celebrity  in  various  hands,  until  Mr.  Charles 
Colling  adopted  them. 

Whatever  had  been  the  merits  of  the  Teeswater  cattle,  it  is  cer- 
tain Mr.  Colling  greatly  improved  them ;  and  though  it  has  been 
asserted  that  his  success  was  the  result  of  chance,  arising  from  the 
possession  of  an  animal,  with  the  merits  of  which  he  was  at  one  pe^ 
riod  unacquainted,  the  writer  of  this  article  is  of  opinion  that  Mr. 
Colling's  success  resulted  from  a  deliberate  and  well-considered  plan. 
He  found  the  Teeswater,  like  all  other  extravagantly  large  cattle, 
frequently  of  loose  make  and  disproportion.  He  was  sensible,  also, 
of  the  difficulty  of  breeding,  with  anything  like  certainty,  large  good 
animals ;  and  though  he  has  declined  on  all  occasions  to  throw  any 
light  on  his  views  and  proceedings,  the  writer  thinks  he  can  detect, 
in  the  very  outset,  and  through  the  progress  of  his  practice,  a  reso- 
lution to  reduce  the  size  of  this  breed,  and  at  the  same  time,  and  by 
that  means,  to  improv^e  its  form.  This  he  is  supposed  to  have  eflfected, 
in  the  first  instance,  through  the  medium  of  a  bull,  called  JEfubback, 
an  animal  respecting  which  there  has  been  much  controversy,  princi- 
pally touching  the  purity  of  his  blood,  a  question  now  of  little  im- 
portance, because  it  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that  Mr.  Colling 
adopted  another  cross,  which  prevails  in  a  majority  of  superior  short- 
horns of  the  present  day.  It  may,  notwithstanding,  be  matter  of 
interest  to  state  a  few  particulars  respecting  this  bull. 

Without  entering  on  an  inquiry  by  what  circumstances  Hubback's 
title  to  be  considered  of  pure  blood  is  supported  or  weakened,  it  may 
suffice  to  observe,  that  it  appears  probable  he  possessed  on  one  side 
the  imported  blood.  Tlie  possessor  of  his  dam  was  a  person  in  in- 
digent circumstances,  and  grazed  his  cow  in  the  highways.  When 
afterwards  she  was  removed  to  good  land,  near  Darlington,  she  be- 
came so  fat  that  she  did  not  again  breed  ;  and  her  son,  having  the 
same  feeding  propensity  in  a  high  degree,  was  useful  as  a  bull  during 
a  very  short  period.  The  quality  of  his  flesh,  hide,  and  hair  are 
supposed  to  have  been  seldom  equaled ;  and  as  he  was  smaller  than 
We  Teeswater  cattle,  he  was  eminently  calculated  to  forward  Mr. 


CATTLE. 


Ceiling's  views.  There  are  no  superior  short-horns  which  do  not 
claim  descent  nearly,  or  remotely,  from  Hubback.* 

After  the  use  of  this  bull,  Mr.  Charles  Colling  proceeded  with 
success  to  produce  superior  animals  ;  and  the  number  of  bulls  he 
disposed  of  by  letting  was  highly  encouraging.  But  the  circum- 
stance Avhich  brought  the  short-horns  into  most  extensive  notice  was 
the  production  of  the  Durham  Ox,  an  animal  Avhich  speaks  volumes 
in  favor  of  this  blood.  The  ox  was  the  produce  of  a  cow  which  had 
been  put  to  Favorite.  At  five  years  old,  the  Durham  ox  was  sold 
to  Mr.  Bulmer,  of  Harmby,  near  Bedale,  for  public  exhibition,  for 
140/.  in  February,  1801.  He  was  at  that  time  computed  to  weigh 
168  stones,  of  14  lb.,  (2352  lbs.),  his  live  weight  being  216  stones, 
(3024  lbs.)  and  this  extraordinary  weight  did  not  arise  from  his  su- 
perior size,  but  from  the  excessive  ripeness  of  his  points.  Mr.  Bul- 
mer traveled  with  him  five  weeks,  and  then  sold  him  and  his  car- 
riage, at  Rotherham,  to  Mr.  John  Day,  on  the  14th  May,  1801,  for 
250/.  On  the  14th  of  May,  Mr.  Day  could  have  sold  him  for  525/. 
On  the  13th  of  June,  for  1000/.     On  the  8th  of  July,  for  2000/. 

Mr.  Day  traveled  with  him  nearly  six  years,  through  England  and 
Scotland,  till  at  Oxford,  on  the  19th  February,  1807,  the  ox  dis- 
located his  hip-bone,  and  continued  in  that  state  till  the  15th  April, 
when  he  was  obhged  to  be  slaughtered,  and,  notwithstanding  he 
must  have  lost  considerably  in  weight,  during  these  eight  weeks  of 
illness,  his  carcass  weighed — Four  quarters,  165  stones  12  lbs.  (2322 

*  This  is  true,  because  Hubback  was  the  sire  of  the  dam  of  Mr.  Charles  Colling'r 
bull,  Foljambe,  who  was  the  grandsire  of  Favorite  ;  and  there  has  not  been  for  many 
years  any  superior  short-honi  not  descended  from  Favorite.  Mr.  Charles  Colling  is 
said  to  have  considered  that  the  bull,  Foljambe,  was  the  one  who  did  his  stock  the 
greatest  good  ;  and  this  is  not  improbable,  as  Foljambe  was  the  sire  both  of  the  sire 
and  dam  of  Favorite.  Hubback,  however,  must  have  been  a  remarkably  good 
animal,  and  considering  the  short  time  during  which  he  was  used  by  Colling,  proved 
himself  a  first-rate  stock-getter. 

The  following  account  of  Hubback  we  had  from  Mr.  Waistell,  of  Alihill,  who, 
although  his  name  does  not  appear  conspicuously  in  the  Short-Horned  Herd  Book, 
deserves  much  credit  for  his  discrimination  here.  He  used  to  admire  tiiis  bull  as  he 
rode  by  the  meadow  in  which  he  grazed  ;  and  at  length  attempted  to  purchase  him. 
The  price  asked,  8/.,  seemed  much,  and  the  bargain  was  not  struck.  Still  he  longed 
for  the  beast ;  and  happening  to  meet  Mr.  IJobert  Colling  near  the  place,  asked  his 
opinion  of  the  animal.  Mr.  Colling  acknowledged  that  there  were  good  points  about 
him  :  but  his  manner  induced  Mr.  Waistell  to  suspect  that  Mr.  Colling  thought 
more  highly  of  the  bull  than  his  language  expressed,  and  he  hastened  the  next  morn- 
ing, concluded  the  bargain,  and  paid  the  money.  He  had  scarcely  done  so  before  Mr. 
R.  Colling  arrived  for  the  same  purpose,  and  as  the  two  farmers  rode  home  together, 
they  agreed  that  it  should  be  a  joint  speculaticn. 

Some  months  passed  by,  and  either  Mr.  VVaistell's  admiration  of  the  bull  cooled, 
or  his  partner  did  not  express  himself  very  warmly  about  the  excellences  of  the 
animal,  and  Messrs.  Waistell  and  R.  Colling  transferred  Hubback  to  Mr.  C.  Col- 
ling, who,  with  the  quick  eye  of  an  experienced  breeder,  saw  the  value  of  the  beast, 
Mr.  Waistell  expressed  to  us  (October,  1832)  his  regret  (natural  enough)  at  having 
been  induced  to  part  with  him,  and  his  extreme  disappointment  that  when  Hubback 
was  so  sold,  Mr.  Charles  Colling  confined  him  to  his  own  stock,  and  would  not  lei 
him  serve  even  one  of  Mr.  Waistell's  cows.— Fowaii. 


THE  SHORT-HORNS. 


lbs.)  ;  Tallow,  11  stones  2  lbs.  (156  lbs.) ;  Hide,  10  stones  2lbs.  (142 
lbs.)  ;  total  2620  lbs. 

This  was  his  weight  at  eleven  years  old,  under  all  the  disad- 
vantages of  traveling  in  a  jolting  carriage,  and  eight  weeks  of  pain- 
ful illness.  Had  he  been  kept  quietly  at  Ketton,  and  fed  till  seven 
years  old,  there  is  little  doubt  he  would  have  weighed  more  than  he 
did  at  ten  years  old,  at  which  age  his  live  weight  was  two  hundred 
and  seventy  stones,  (3780  lbs.)  from  which,  if  fifty  be  taken  for 
oflfal,  it  leaves  the  Aveight  of  the  carcass  two  hundred  and  twenty 
stones,   (3080  lbs.) 

It  is  a  well-ascertained  fact,  that,  during  his  career  as  a  breeder, 
Mr.  Colling  tried  several  experiments  in  crossing,  and  the  breeds  to 
which  he  resorted  on  these  occasions  being  very  considerably 
smaller  than  the  short-horns,  this  circumstance  tends  to  corroborate 
the  writer's  opinion  that  he  considered  it  desirable  to  reduce  theur 
size.  The  cross  with  the  Kyloe  led  to  no  results  worthy  enumera- 
tion, but  that  with  the  polled  Galloivay  must  not  be  passed  over 
without  comment.  Before  stating  the  circumstances  attending  this 
experiment,  it  may  be  proper  to  observe  that  no  breed  of  cattle  pro- 
mised so  successful  a  cross  with  the  short- horns  as  the  Galloway. 
They  were  "calculated,  by  their  deep  massive  frames  and  short  legs, 
to  bring  the  short-horns  nearer  the  ground,  and  to  dispose  their 
weight  in  a  more  compact  manner :  their  hardy  habits  would  be  es- 
sentially useful,  and  the  quality  of  their  flesh  and  hair  were  such  as 
to  render  the  experiment  still  more  safe,  and  they  could  be  obtained 
of  a  red  color  ;  even  without  the  sanction  of  a  successful  experiment, 
they  were  admirably  adapted  to  cross  with  the  short-horn,  standing 
frequently  too  high  from  the  ground,  not  very  well  ribbed  home,  and 
often  of  loose,  disjointed  frame. 

To  this  breed  Mr.  Colhng  resolved  to  resort ;  and  though  at  the 
time  when  he  did  so,  the  event  was  regarded  with  some  degree  of 
ridicule  by  the  pure-blood  advocates,  and  comments  passed  which 
would  have  deterred  ordinary  men  from  the  exercise  of  their  judg- 
ment, Mr.  Colling  persisted. 

Mr.  Colling's  short-horned  bull  Bolinghroke  was  put  to  a  beauti- 
ful red  polled  Galloway  cow,  and  the  produce,  a  bull-calf,  was,  in 
due  time,  put  to  Johanna,  a  pure  short-horn — she  also  produced  a 
bull-calf.  This  grandson  of  Bolingbroke  was  the  sire  of  the  cow. 
Lady,  by  another  pure  short-homed  dam,  and  from  Lady  has  sprung 
the  highly  valuable  family  of  improved  short-horns,  termed,  in  re- 
proach, the  alloy.  How  far  the  alloy  was  derogatory,  let  facts 
testify.* 

*  The  dam  of  Lady  was  Phoenix,  also  the  dam  of  the  bull  Favorite  ;  and  as  the 
grandson  of  Bolingbroke  is  not  known  to  have  been  the  sire  of  any  other  remarkably 
good  animal,  it  is  most  probable  that  the  unquestionable  merit  of  Lady  and  hex 
descendants  is  to  be  attributed  more  to  her  dam  than  to  her  sire. —  Youatt. 


100 


CATTLE. 


Mr.  Colling  was  favored  by  circumstances  in  his  object,  vrbich  was  to 
take  one  cross,  and  then  breed  back  to  the  short-horn — the  only  course 
in  which  crossing  can  be  successfully  adopted.  To  breed  from  the 
produce  of  a  cross  directly  among  themselves  will  lead  to  results 
believed  conclusive  against  crossing  ;  but  to  take  one  cross,  and  then 
return  and  adhere  to  one  breed,  will,  in  a  few  generations,  stamp  a 
variety  with  sufficient  certainty. 

It  will  probably  be  admitted  that  the  prejudice  against  this  cross 
was  at  the  highest  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Charles  Colling's  sale.  The 
blood  had  then  been  little,  if  at  all,  introduced  to  other  stocks,  and 
it  was  manifestly  the  interest,  whatever  might  be  the  inclination,  of 
the  many  breeders  who  had  it  not,  to  assume  high  ground  for  the 
pure  blood,  and  to  depreciate  the  alloy.  Under  these  untoward  cir- 
cumstances for  the  alloy,  what  said  pubhc  opinion,  unequivocally 
certified  by  the  stroke  of  the  auctioneer's  hammer  ?  Lady,  at  four- 
teen years  old,  sold  for  two  hundred  and  six  guineas.  Countess,  her 
daughter,  nine  years  old,  for  four  hundred  guineas.  Laura,  another 
daughter,  four  years  old,  for  two  hundred  and  ten  guineas.  Major 
and  George,  two  of  her  sons,  the  former  three  years  old,  the  latter  a 
calf,  for  two  hundred  guineas,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty ;  be- 
sides a  number  of  others,  more  remotely  descended  from  Lady,  which 
all  sold  at  high  prices.  Lady  and  her  descendants  sold  for  a  larger 
sum  than  any  other  family  obtained. 

A  Catalogue  of  Mr.  C.  Colling's  Sale  of  Short-Horned  Cattle, 
October  11th,   1810. 


COWS. 


Age.       Names. 

11,  Cherry, 

4,  Kate, 

5,  Peeress, 

2,  Countess, 

5,  Celina, 
4,  Johanna, 

14,  Lady, 

8,  Cathelone, 

4,  Laura, 

3,  Lily, 

6,  Daisy, 

4,  Cora, 
4,  Beauty, 

4,  Red  Rose, 

3,  Flora, 

3,  Miss  Peggy, 

3,  Magdalene, 


Out  of. 

Old  Cherry, 

Cherry, 
Lady, 
Countess, 
Johanna, 

Old  Phoenix, 

A  daughter  of  the 
da'm  of  Phoenix, 
Lady, 
Daisy, 

Old  Daisy, 

Countess, 

Miss  Washington, 

Eliza, 


A  heifer  by  Wash- 
ton, 


Got  by. 

Favorite, 

Comet, 

Favorite, 

Cupid, 

Favorite, 

Do., 
A  grandson  of 
'    Lord  Boling- 
[   broke. 

Washington, 

Favorite, 

Comet, 

A  grandson  of 
Favorite, 

Favorite, 

Marske, 

Comet, 
Do., 
i  A  son  of  Fa- 
\     vorite. 

Comet, 


S-Dld  foj. 
Os 
83, 
35, 

170, 
400, 
200, 
130, 


Bought  by. 

J.  D.  Nesham 
Mr.  Hunt. 
Major  Rudd. 

Do. 
Sir  H.  Ibbetson. 
H.  Witham. 


206,    C.Wright. 


150, 

210, 
410, 

140, 

70, 

120, 

45, 

70, 

60, 
170, 


G.  Parker. 

Mr.  Grant 
Major  Rudd. 

Major  Power 

G.  Johnson. 
C.  Wright. 
W.  C.  Fenton. 
Earl  of  Lonsdale 

O.  Gascoigne. 
Champion. 


THE   SHORT-HORNS. 


101 


BULLS. 

Age 

1.       Names. 

Out  of. 

Got  by. 

Price. 
Os. 

BoTjght  by. 

'  Messrs.  Wetherell, 

6, 

Comet, 

Young  Phoenix. 

Favorite, 

1000,- 

Trotter, 
Wright,  and 

9, 

3, 

1; 

2, 

Yarborough. 

Major, 

Mayduke, 

Petrarch, 
5  Northumber 
i     land, 

Alfred, 

Duke, 

Alexander, 

Ossian, 

Harold, 

Dam  by  Favorite. 

Lady, 

Cherry, 

Old  Venus, 

Cupid. 

Comet, 
Do., 
Do., 

Do., 

55, 
200, 
145, 
365, 

80, 

,      Charge. 
A  Gregson 
Mr.  Grant. 
Mr.  Smithsoa. 
Major  Rudd. 

Mr.  Buston. 

Venus, 
Duchess, 
Cora, 

Magdalene, 
Red  Rose, 

Do., 
Do., 
Do., 
Do., 
Windsor, 

110, 
105, 
63, 
76, 
50, 

Mr.  Robinson. 
A.  Compton. 
Mr.  Fenton. 
Earl  of  Lonsdale. 
Sir  C.  Loraine, 

2249. 


BULL-CALVES,  UNDER  ONE  YEAR  OLD. 


Names. 

Ketton, 

Young  Favorite, 

George, 

Sir  Dimple, 

Narcissus, 

Albion, 

CecH, 


Out  of. 

Cherry, 

Countess, 

Lady, 

Daisy, 

Flora, 

Beauty, 

Peeress, 


Got  by. 

Comet, 
Do., 
Do., 
Do., 
Do., 
Do., 
Do., 


Price. 

Of. 
50, 

140, 

130, 
90, 
15, 
60, 

170, 


Bought  by. 

Major  Bower. 

Skipworth. 

Mr.  Walker. 
T.  Lax. 
Mr.  Wright. 
T.  Booth. 
H.  Strickland. 


Age.      Names. 

3,    Phoebe, 
2,    Duchess  1., 
2,    Young  Laura, 
n  5  Young  Coun- 
■*'  I      tess, 

2,    Lucy, 

1,     Charlotte, 
1,    Johanna, 


Out  of. 


HEIFERS. 

Got  by. 


Dam  by  Favorite, 

Do. 
Laura, 

Countess, 
<  Dam  by  Washing- 
(     ton, 

Cathelene, 

Johanna, 


Comet, 
Do., 
Do., 

Do., 

Do, 

Do., 
Do., 


Price. 

Os. 

105, 

183, 

101, 


136, 
35, 

808 


Bought  by 

Sir  H.  Ibbetson. 
T.  Bates. 
Earl  of  Lonsdale 
Sir  H.  Ibbetson. 


132,    Mr.  Wright. 


R.  Colling. 
G.  Johnson. 


HEIFER-CALVES,  UNDER  C  NE  YEAR  OLD. 


Names. 

LucUla, 

Calista, 

White  Rose, 

Ruby, 

Cowslip, 


Mr.  Grant. 

Sir  H.   V.  Tem 


Out  of.  Got  by  Price.  Bought  by. 

Os. 

Laura,  Comet,  106, 

Cora,  Do.,  50   | 

Lily,  Yarbro',  75,     Mr.  Strickland. 

Red  Rose,  Do.,  50,    Major  Bower. 

Comet,  25,    Earl  of  Lonsdale 


102 


CATTLE. 


From  the  above  it  appears  that  seventeen  cows  were  sold  for 
X2802  9s.;  eleven  bulls,  £2361  9s.;  seven  bull-calves,  £687  15s.; 
seven  heifers,  £942  IBs.;  five  heifer-calves,  £321  6s.  In  all  forty- 
seven  were  sold,  for  £7115  17s. 


/=;^ 


THE    REV.    H.    berry's    COW. 


Mr.  Charge  of  Newton,  near  Darlington,  and  Mr.  Mason  of  Chil- 
ton, in  the  county  of  Durham,  were  only  second  to  Mr.  Charles 
Colling  in  his  interesting  and  useful  pursuit.  Mr.  Mason  started 
early  with  animals  derived,  it  is  believed,  from  Mr.  Colling,  in  the 
very  commencement  of  his  career ;  and  Mr.  Charge,  who  had  long 
possessed  a  most  valuable  stock  of  Tees  water  cattle,  had  at  an  early 
period  crossed  them  with  Mr.  Colling's  best  bulls,  and  was  one  of 
the  spirited  purchasers  of  Comet,  at  a  thousand  guineas.  Mr.  Ma- 
son's successful  sale  sufficiently  stamps  the  value  of  his  stock  at  that 
period,   1829. 

It  would  be  unfair  to  omit  mention  of  a  veteran  breeder,  to  whom 
the  advocates  for  the  preservation  of  pedigree  are  indebted  for  the 
**  Short-horn  Herd  Book" — Mr.  George  Coates.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  oldest  authorities  on  the  subject,  and  was  once  the  possessor 
of  a  very  superior  race  of  short-horns,  though  somewhat  coarse. 
Portraits  have  been  preserved  of  some  very  good  animals  bred  by 


THE  SHORT-HORNS.  101 


him  ;  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  dispose  of  his  bull  Patriot  foi 
five  hundred  guineas. 

Mr.  Coates  fell  into  an  error,  but  too  common,  and  generally 
equally  fatal  :  he  fancied  his  own  stock  the  best,  and  disdained  to 
cross  tiiem  -with  Mr.  Colling's  ;  which,  as  others  afterwards  proved, 
would  have  been  a  most  judicious  proceeding.  The  consequence 
was,  Mr.  Colling's  sale  having  settled  the  public  judgment  and 
taste,  Mr.  Coates's  stock  fell  into  disrepute.  If  an  apology  be  requi- 
site for  this  statement  of  an  undeniable  fact,  it  will  be  found  in  the 
utihty  of  holding  up  such  an  example  as  a  caution  to  those  who  may 
be  in  danger  of  falling  into  a  similar  error. 

It  is  considered  that  the  specimens  already  appealed  to,  and  the 
fine  animals  whose  portraits  accompany  this  account,  will  render  su- 
perfluous any  attempt  more  particularly  to  describe  the  short-horns. 
Of  course  they  will  be  found  to  vary  greatly ;  but  sufficient  may  be 
collected  from  what  is  presented  to  the  reader,  to  inform  him  as  to 
the  character  of  this  superior  breed  of  cattle.  The  next  object,  then, 
will  be  to  show  their  capabilities  to  make  a  return  for  food  consumed, 
and  the  unparalleled  early  period  at  which  such  return  may  be 
made.  Indeed,  early  maturity  is  the  grand  and  elevating  character- 
istic of  the  short-horns,  and  their  capacity  to  continue  grooving, 
and  at  the  same  time  attaining  an  unexampled  ripeness  of  condition 
at  an  early  age,  has  excited  the  wonder,  and  obtained  the  approba- 
tion, of  all  not  blinded  by  prejudice. 

In  order  to  do  justice  to  the  subject,  and  to  show  that  these  pro- 
perties are  not  all  of  recent  acquirement,  but  were  possessed  in  an 
eminent  degree  by  the  Teeswater  cattle,  it  will  be  requisite  to  give 
a  few  facts  in  evidence. 

Sir  Henry  Grey  (of  Howick)  bred  tw^o  oxen,  which  were  fed  by 
Mr.  Waistell,  and  when  six  years  old  weighed  130  stones  each, 
14  lbs.  to  tlie  stone  (1S20  lbs.)  ;  their  inside  fat  being  extraordinary. 

A  heifer,  three  years  old,  bred  by  Miss  Allen  (of  Grange),  fed  on 
hay  and  grass  alone,  weighed  90  stones,  (1360  lbs.) 

Two  three  years'-old  steers,  bred  by  the  same  lady,  and  similarly 
fed,  weighed  respectively  92  and  96  stones,  (1288  lbs.  and  1344  lbs.) 

Mr.  Waistell's  four  years'-old  ox,  by  the  grand-sire  of  Hubback, 
weighed  110  stones,  (1540  lbs.) 

A  four  years'-old  ox,  bred  by  Mr.  Simpson  (of  Aychflfe,)  fed  on 
hay  and  turnips  only,  weighed  135  stones,  (1890  lbs.) 

A  fire  years'-old  heifer,  bred  by  a  bishop  of  Durham,  weighed 
110  stones,  (1540  lbs.) 

A  cow  of  Mr.  Hill's,  slaughtered  in  Northumberland,  weighed  127 
b-tones,  (1*738  lbs.) 

Mr.  George  Coates,  before-mentioned,  slaughtered  a  heifer,  by  the 
Bire  of  Hubback,  which,  fed  on  turnips  and  hay,  weighed,  at  two 
years  and  tw(  months  old,  68  stones,  (932  lbs.) 


104  CATTLE. 

An  ox  and  heifer,  bred  by  Mr.  Watson  (of  Manfield,)  weighed,  at 
four  years  old,  within  a  few  pounds,  110  stones  each,  (1540  lbs.) 

A  sister  to  Mr.  G.  Coates's  Badsioorth,  having  run  with  her  dam, 
without  oil-cake  or  meal,  met  with  an  accident,  and  died  when  seven 
months  old ;  she  weighed  34  stones,  (4*76  lbs.) 

A  steer,  by  a  brother  to  the  above  heifer,  three  years  and  two 
months  old,  weighed  105  stones  (1470  lbs.) ;  and  another  steer,  by  the 
same  bull,  exactly  three  years  old,  weighed  95  stones,  (1330  lbs.) 
Both  were  kept  as  store-beasts  till  two  years  old. 

An  ox,  bred  by  M.  Hill  (of  Blackwell,)  slaughtered  at  six  years 
old,  weighed  151  stones,  10  lbs.  (2124  lbs.)  ;  tallow,  11  stones. 

The  Howick  red  ox,  seven  years  old,  weighed  152  stones,  9  lbs., 
(2137  lbs.);  tallow,  16  stones,  7  lbs. 

Mr.  Charge's  ox,  seven  years  old,  weighed  168  stones,  10  lbs. 
(2352  lbs.) ;  tallow,  13  stones.' 

The  foregoing  instances  of  weight  and  proof  show,  that  in  the 
Teeswater  cattle,  Mr.  Charles  Colling  had  good  materials  with  which 
to  commence.  Let  us  now  refer  to  a  later  period,  and  state  some 
particulars  respecting  their  descendants,  the  short-horns. 

In  the  year  1808,  Mr,  Bailey,  the  agricultural  historian  of  Durham, 
informs  us,  he  saw,  at  Mr.  Mason's  (of  Chilton,)  a  cow,  not  less 
remarkable  in  point  of  fat  than  the  Durham  ox.  x\t  that  time,  the 
depth  of  fat,  from  the  rump  to  the  hips,  in  a  perpendicular  position, 
was  not  less  than  twelve  inches  ;  and  the  shoulder  score  at  least  nine 
inches  thick. 

Mr.  Robert  Colling's  heifer,  which  was  exhibited  as  a  curiosity, 
was  estimated,  at  four  years  old,  to  weigh  130  stones,  (1820  lbs.) 

The  same  gentleman  sold,  in  Darlington  Market,  on  the  18th  of 
April,  1 808,  a  two  years'-old  steer  for  22/.;  the  price  of  fat  stock 
being  at  that  time  seven  shillings  per  stone  ;  66  stones  6  lbs.  weight, 
or  924  lbs. 

At  Mr.  Nesham's  (of  Houghton-le- Spring,)  Mr.  Bailey  saw  a 
steer,  25  months  old,  completely  covered  with  fat  ovei-  the  whole 
carcass,  and  supposed  to  be  the  fattest  steer  of  his  age  ever  seen. 
Butchers  estimated  him  to  weigh  75  stones,  (1050  lbs.)  Neither  of 
the  last-mentioned  were  of  large  size,  and  would  not  have  weighed 
above  40  stones  (560  lbs.),  had  they  been  no  fatter  than  those  usually 
slaughtered. 

Mr.  Wetherell  (of  Field  House)  sold  at  the  fair  in  Darlington,  in 
March,  1810,  two  steers,  under  three  years  old,  for  47/.  105.  each. 
The  price  of  cattle  at  that  fair,  10s.  per  stone ;  weight  1330  lbs.  each. 

Mr.  Arrowsmith  (of  Ferry  hill,)  who  led  off  his  short-horns  at  two 
years  old,  furnished  the  following  particulars  of  the  prices  he  obtained 
from  the  butchers,  viz. 

In  1801,  sold  four  for  25/.  each  ;  two  steers,  and  two  heifers.  In 
1802,  sold  six  for  17/.  10«.  each  ;  three  steers,  and  three  heifers.     In 


THE    6HORT-HONRS.  W5 


1803,  sold  four  for  111.  each.  In  1804,  sold  six  for  18?.  105.  each. 
In  1805,  sold  six  for  Ml.  10s.  each  ;  two  steers,  and  four  heifers.  In 
1806,  sold  four  for  161.  each.  In  1807,  sold  eight  for  18/.  each. 
In  1808,  sold  eight  for  19/.  each. 

The  time  of  selling,  from  the  beginning  to  the  latter  end  of  May. 
In  the  first  winter  they  got  straw  in  a  fold-yard,  with  neaily  as  many 
turnips  as  they  could  consume  :  in  May  they  went  to  grass  ;  in 
November  put  to  turnips  through  the  winter,  and  turned  to  grass  the 
first  week  in  May. 

A  twin  heifer,  belonging  to  Mr.  Arrowsmith,  calved  the  last  week 
in  April,  being  kept  the  first  year  as  the  store-stock,  was  entered  for 
a  sweepstakes,  to  be  shown  in  June,  at  which  time  she  would  be  two 
years  old.  She  was  immediately  turned  to  grass.  In  November 
she  was  estimated  to  weigh  28  stones  (392  lbs)  ;  when  she  was  put 
to  ruta  baga,  and  hay,  and  oil-cake,  of  which  latter  she  ate  4  cwt., 
with  2  bushels  bean-meal,  and  1  bushel  barley.  She  went  to  grass 
again  on  the  first  of  May,  and  from  that  period  had  neither  oil-cake 
nor  meal.  On  the  23d  of  July,  it  was  the  opinion  of  judges  that  she 
■weighed  58  or  60  stones  (820  lbs.)  ;  having  gained  30  stones  (420  lbs.) 
in  30  weeks. 

In  April,  1808,  Mr.  Bailey  saw,  at  Mr.  Arrowsmith's,  eight  year- 
Imgs,  intended  for  feeding.  They  were  ve?y  lean,  not  more  than  15 
stones  (210  lbs.)  each  ;  and  had  they  been  offered  for  sale  in  a  fair, 
no  person,  unacquainted  with  the  breed,  would  have  given  more  for 
them  than  41.  10s.  or  5/.  per  head. 

Mr.  Walton  (of  Middleton  in  Teesdale)  had  been,  in  1808,  in  the 
habit  of  selling  his  steers,  at  two  years  and  a  quarter  old,  at  from  20/. 
to  30/.  each ;  their  weight  being  50  to  54  stones  (TOO  to  750  lbs.) 
fed  solely  on  vegetable  food. 

Mr.  Mason  (of  Chilton,)  in  an  experiment  to  ascertain  the  weight 
of  beef  gained  by  the  food  given  (turnips,)  found  three  steers,  under 
three  years  old,  to  have  gained  20  stones  (280  lbs.)  each  in  20  weeks. 
The  three  steers  averaged  10  stones  (980  lbs.)  each. 

In  1816,  Mr.  Nesham's  steer,  three  years  and  a  half  old,  obtained 
the  premium  offered  by  the  Durham  Agricultural  Society  ;  his  weight 
was,  the  4  quarters,  96  stones,  Hlbs.  (1347|);  tallow,  11  stones, 
7  lbs.  (154  lbs.);  hide,  8  stones,  (112  lbs.) 

Major  Rudd  (of  Cleveland)  obtained  the  premium  offered  by  the 
Cleveland  Agricultural  Society  in  1811,  for  the  best  steer,  under 
three  years  old,  and  fed  on  vegetable  food.  The  steer  was  slaughtered 
when  three  years  and  thirteen  days  old  ;  the  weight  of  his  four 
quarters  was  96  stones,  (1344  lbs.) 

The  late  Mr.  Robertson,  of  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  furnished  the 
following  particulars  of  short-horns,  bred  by  him,  and  fed,  with  few 
exceptions,  on  vegetable  food  : — 

1794. — An  ox,  four  years  ten  months  old  ;  four  quarters,  145 
6* 


106 


CATTLE. 


Stones,  31b.;  tallow,  24  stones,  7  lb., (2208  lbs.)  A  steer,  under  four 
Years  old;  four  quarters,  106  stones;  tallowl9  stones, 7  lb., (1747  lbs.,) 
1814. — A  steer,  three  years  and  nine  months  old  ;  four  quarters,  101 
stones,  tallow,  15  stones,  (1624,  lbs.)  1815. — A  steer,  three  years 
eleven  months  old  ;  four  quarters,  112  stones  7  lb.;  tallow,  26  stones, 
(1839  lbs.)  A  heifer,  three  years  eight  months  old;  four  quarters, 
89  stones,  (1226  lbs.)  1817. — A  steer,  three  years  two  months  old  ; 
four  quarters,  95  stones,  10  lb.;  tallow,  17  stones,  10  lb.  (1528  lbs.) 
1822. — An  ox,  four  years  and  a  half  old;  four  quarters,  135  stones; 
tallow,  21  stones,  (2184  lbs.)  Own  brother  to  the  foregoing,  three 
years  and  a  half  old ;  four  quarters,  133  stones ;  tallow,  21  stones, 
(2170  lbs.)  A  steer,  three  years  ten  months  old ;  four  quarters  124 
stones;  tallow,  17  stones,  (2074  lbs.)  A  steer,  three  years  eight 
months  old;  four  quarters,  112  stones,  (1568  lbs.);  tallow  not 
weighed. 


.^^m^M^^ 


LORD    ALTHORP  S    COW. 


A  steer,  bred  by  Col.  Cook,  of  Doncaster,  fed  on  potatoes  and 
straw,  was  slaughtered  when  two  years  and  twenty-two  days  old  ; 
his  four  quarters  weighed  72  stones,  (lOOS)  lbs. 

Mr.  Joiin  Reunic  (of  Phantassie.)  fed,  in  1823,  a  steer,  from  eigh- 


THE  SHORT-HORNS. 


107 


teen  to  twenty  months  old ;  the  four  quarters  of  which  weighed 
945  lbs. 

The  same  gentleman  fed  a  steer,  aged  two  years  and  four  months, 
whose  four  quarters  weighed  1231  lbs.  ;  also  a  steer,  aged  three  years 
six  months,  w^hose  four  quarters  weighed  1369  lbs. ;  tallow,  241  lbs. 

Should  the  foregohig  statement  be  considered  extended,  it  will,  at 
kast,  be  admitted,  that  its  ample  detail  establishes  the  credit  of  the 
short-horns  as  an  invaluable  breed  to  the  grazier. 

In  the  commencement  of  this  account,  however,  it  was  stated  that 
they  possess  a  combination  of  qualities,  considered  incompatible  in 
other  breeds,  viz.,  the  disposition  to  feed  rapidly,  in  union  with  dairy 
qualifications. 


&^^ 


-^^, 


LORD   ALTHORP  S    HEIFER. 


There  is  a  very  general  impression  that  animals  disposed  to  fatten 
rapidly  seldom  give  much  milk.  It  is  true,  that  every  perfection  in 
eattle — whether  it  be  one  of  form,  of  quality  of  flesh,  of  disposition 
to  fatten,  or  to  yield  milk — can  be  promoted  and  retained  solely  by 
the  breeder's  devoted  attention  to  his  particular  object ;  and  if  one 
object  be  allowed  a  paramount  importance  in  the  breeder's  practice, 
other  objects  will  suffer,  in  proportion  as  they  are  neglected. 

The  carc.as.s  of  the  short-horns  has  ever  been  so  surprising,  and  so 


108  CATTLE. 


justly  valued,  that  many  persons  have  allowed  that  completely  to 
occupy  their  attention,  and  the  dairy  has  been  disregarded.  In  such 
a  state  of  things,  every  advance  towards  one  point  has  been  to  recede 
from  another ;  because  what  tends  to  enhance  a  particular  quality, 
will  also  enhance  a  defect,  provided  such  defect  was  of  previous 
existence. 

The  objections  which  exist  among  breeders,  for  various  and  some 
cogent  reasons,  against  crossing  with  the  stocks  of  each  other,  una- 
voidably lead  to  the  practice  of  breeding  in  and  in  ;  which,  in  case  of 
any  original  deficiency  of  the  milking  property,  must  unquestionably 
go  on  to  render  that  deficiency  greater.  Bad  milking,  in  a  breed  of 
animals  which  were  ever  distinguished  as  good  milkers,  is  not  a  ne- 
cessary consequence  of  improvement  in  the  animal  in  other  respects, 
but  a  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which  such  improvement  is 
pursued.  Short-horns,  inferior  to  none  for  the  grazier,  may  always 
be  selected  and  bred  with  the  most  valuable  dairy  properties.  There 
are  many  instances  of  the  highest  bred  short-horns  giving  upwards 
of  four  gallons  of  milk  night  and  morning  ;  and  attenlfion  only  is  re- 
quisite, on  the  part  of  the  breeder,  to  perpetuate  this  quality  to  any 
desirable  extent.  A  moderately  good  milker  will  be  found  to  yield 
as  much  butter  in  the  week  as  one  giving  an  enormous  quantity ;  the 
milk  being  imq.uestionably  of  very  superior  quality  ;  and,  indeed,  it 
should  be  the  case,  that  the  animal  economy,  which  leads  to  an  ex- 
cessive secretion  of  flesh  and  fat,  should  also  be  productive  of  other 
rich  secretions. 

Wherever  the  improved  short-horns  have  been  crossed  with  other 
cattle,  their  superiority  is  equally  manifest,  in  respect  of  dairy  quali- 
fications, as  in  every  other. 

An  opinion  generally  prevails  that  the  short-horns  are  unfitted  for 
work ;  and  in  some  respects  it  is  admitted  they  are  so :  but  the 
correct  reason  has  not  been  assigned,  and  the  question  may  fairly 
come  briefly  under  notice.  They  are  wilHng  and  able  to  work,  but 
surely  cattle  which,  as  the  preceding  account  proves,  will  go  as 
profitably  to  the  butcher  at  two  years  old  as  any  other  breed  at 
three,  and  as  many  even  at  four,  ought  never  to  be  placed  in  the 
yoke.  No  beast,  in  the  present  advanced  state  of  breeding,  ought 
to  be  put  upon  a  system  which  arose  out  of  the  necessity  of  obtain- 
ing compensation  by  work  for  the  loss  attending  a  tardy  maturity. 
But  where  it  may  be  convenient,  the  short-liorns,  particularly  the 
bulls,  work  admirably,  as  their  great  docility  promises  :  And  as  good 
bulls  are  apt  to  become  useless,  from  acquiring  too  much  flesh  in  a 
state  of  confinement,  moderate  w^ork  might,  in  most  cases,  prove 
beneficial. 

The  specimens  which  accompany  this  account  will  lender  little 
comment  necessary  on  their  form.  With  deference,  however,  it  is 
submitted  to  the  breedei-s  of  short-boras,  that  they  should  avoid 


THE    SHORT-HORxVS. 


109 


breeding  from  too  close  affinities,  and,  while  they  steer  clear  of 
coarseness,  should  require  a  sufficiency  of  masculine  character  in 
their  males.  This  is  a  point  in  which  many  short-horns  are  rather 
defective,  and  it  is  one  of  infinite  importance.  The  length  of  the 
carcass  should  be  medium,  as  well  as  that  of  the  legs,  and  a  hardier 
animal,  with  equal  size  and  on  a  more  profitable  scale,  will  be  pro- 
duced. The  facilities  for  making  this  improvement  are  sufficiently 
numerous,  the  short-horns  being  now  more  generally  diffused.  That 
wider  diffusion  also  multiplies  the  means  of  selecting  for  milk  ;  a 
quality  which  should  not  be  lost  sight  of ;  for  it  is  the  comhination  of 
perfections  which  has  conferred,  and  will  perpetuate,  the  superiority 
of  this  breed  of  cattle. 


LORD    ALTHORP  S    BULL. 


The  colors  of  the  short-horns  are  red  or  white,  or  a  mixture  of  the 
two,  combining  in  endless  variety,  and  producing,  very  frequently, 
most  brilliant  effect.  The  white,  it  is  very  probable,  they  obtained 
from  an  early  cross  with  the  wild  breed  ;  and  w^henever  this  color 
shows  itself,  it  is  accompanied,  more  or  less,  with  a  red  tinge  on  the 
extremity  of  the  ear  ;  a  distinctive  character,  also,  of  the  wild  cattle. 
^o  jnire  short-horns  are  fourd  of  any  colors  but  those  above  named. 


no  CATTLE. 


"  So  far  Mr.  Berry,  whose  admirable  account  of  the  short-homs 
our  readers  will  duly  estimate."  Thus  Mr.  Youatt  finishes  Mr. 
Berry's,  and  commences  his  part  of  the  account  of  short-horns,  which 
begins  on  page  131,  and  goes  to  page  137. 

CORRECTIONS    OF    MR.    BERRY,    AND    FURTHER    HISTORICAL    NOTICES    OF 
SHORT-HORNS. 

The  American  Editor  deemed  it  proper  to  give  the  account  of  the 
short-horns  written  for  this  work  by  Mr.  Berry,  and  printed  by 
Youatt.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Youatt  should  not  have  done 
in  reference  to  the  short-horns,  what  he  did  in  reference  to  all 
the  other  races  of  English  cattle, — written  their  history  himself. 
Although  adopting  and  therefore  endorsing  this  history,  he  yet, 
in  two  quite  important  notes,  pages  95  and  99,  very  materially 
qualifies  one  position,  and  wholly  contradicts  and  destroys  another 
most  important  one  of  Mr.  Berry.  Entirely  unconnected  with  any 
particular  stock  or  short-horn  interest,  Mr.  Youatt  was  eminently 
fitted  from  capacity  and  impartiality  to  investigate,  and  then  to 
write  the  history  of  the  short-homs  ;  and  in  this  respect  presents  a 
strong  contrast  to  Mr.  Berry,  who,  from  interest,  was  a  partisan, 
and  devoted  to  views  sustaining  that  interest. 

In  England,  it  is  said  that  Mr.  Berry's  first  history,  printed  in 
1824,  and  reprinted  in  1830,  was  written  to  further  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Whittaker,  then  a  breeder ;  and  certain  it  is  that  the  only 
breeder  of  that  day — 1824  to  1830 — who  finds  a  place  in  that  his- 
tory, is  Mr.  Whittaker.  It  is  further  said  that  Mr.  Berry  became 
hostile  to  Mr.  Whittaker ;  that  under  this  feeling  of  enmity,  his 
second  history  (the  one  here  given)  was  written,  in  which  not  the 
most  distant  allusion  is  made  to  Mr.  Whittaker,  or  his  stock  ;  and 
that  in  this  second  history  his  object  was  to  serve  himself,  as  in  the 
first  one  he  had  .  served  Mr.  Whittaker.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is 
given  as  told. 

No  one  would  have  a  right  to  complain  that  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Whittaker  was  promoted  by  the  first  history  ;  or  that  of  Mr.  Berry 
by  the  second,  had  truth  been  observed  and  made  the  means  of  that 
advancement. 

In  the  frst  of  these  histories,  the  object  seems  to  have  been  solely 
to  put  forth  Mr.  Charles  Colling  as  the  entire  creato'  of  the  short- 
homs  in  the  great  perfection  they  presented  in  his  day,  and  exhibit 
at  present;  and  Mr.  Whittaker  as  his  chief  successor.  In  the  second 
history  (the  one  in  Youatt)  the  object  appeal's  to  be  the  same  as 
regards  Mr.  C.  Colling,  and  to  show  that  the  short-horn  and  Galloway 
alloy,  or  cross,  is  superior  to  the  true  short-horn.  In  this  second 
one  Mr.  Berry's  interest  was  to  be  promoted,  as  he  had  a  large 
stock,  wholly  of  the  rrallovvay  alloy. 


SHORT-HORNS.  ui 


In  Mr.  Berry's  first  history,  there  is  much  matter  that  is  omitted 
in  the  second ;  and  much  in  the  second  not  to  be  found  in  the  first ; 
and  much  in  each  that  is  discordant  with  the  other.  In  the  first  one 
the  Galloway  alloy  is  not  named  at  all ;  in  the  second  that  cross  is 
all  that  is  held  of  any  importance  in  the  breeding  of  C.  Colling. 

The  points  in  Mr.  Berry's  account,  here  printed,  (his  second  his- 
tory,) which  will  be  noticed  and  refuted,  are 

1.  The  asserted  importation  of  cattle  from  Holland  about  one  hun- 
dred years  since,  and  the  union  of  their  blood  with  the  then  existing 
short -horns  of  the  valley  of  the  Tees. 

2.  The  assertion  that  about  one  hundred  years  since,  the  breeders 
of  short-horns,  in  their  pretended  improvement,  "  proceeded  on  a  judi- 
cious system  of  crossing  with  other  breeds,  and  one  to  which  they 
referred  was  in  all  probability  the  white  wild  breed." 

3.  The  claimed  exclusive  improvement  effected  in  the  Short-horns 
by  C.  Colling. 

4.  The  assertion  that  Mr.  C.  Colhng  adopted,  as  the  rule  of  his 
breeding,  the  reduction  of  the  size  of  the  short-horns  bred  by  him. 

5.  The  account  given  of  Hubback,  in  which  it  is  impliedly  said 
that  he  was  not  a  pure  short-horn,  and  that  he  possessed  on  one 
side  the  Dutch  blood,  and  that  from  fat  he  early  became  useless. 

6.  The  whole  account  of  the  Galloway  cross;  the  value  of  that 
cross  in  consequence  of  the  Galloway  blood,  and  the  assertion  that 
the  cross  was  made  deliberately  and  with  a  view  to  the  improvement 
of  the  short-horns. 

1.  There  was  no  importation  of  Dutch  cattle,  from  Holland. 

Mr.  Youatt  in  a  note,  page  95,  says :  "  a  large  and  valuable  de- 
scription of  cattle  existed  on  the  western  coast  of  the  continent  of 
Europe,  and  extending  from  Denmark  to  France.  They  were  cele- 
brated for  the  great  quantities  of  milk  which  they  yielded,  and  some 
of  them  exhibited  an  extraordinary  aptitude  to  fatten.  At  what 
particular  time  they  found  their  way  io  England,  or  by  whom  im- 
ported, is  unknown." 

Mr.  George  Culley,  who  wrote  in  17S5,  says:  "I  remember  a 
gentleman  of  the  county  of  Durham,  (a  Mr.  Michael  Dobison,)  who 
went  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  into  Holland,  in  order  to  buy  bulls ; 
and  those  he  brought  over,  I  have  been  told,  did  much  service  in 
improving  the  breed  ;  and  this  Mr.  Dobison,  and  his  neighbors  even 
in  my  day,  were  noted  for  having  the  best  breeds  of  short-horned 
cattle,  and  sold  their  bulls  and  heifers  for  very  great  prices.  But 
afterwards  some  other  people  of  less  knowledge  going  over,  brought 
home  some  bulls,  that  in  all  probability  introduced  into  that  coast 
the  disagreeable  kind  of  cattle  well  known  to  the  breeders  upon  the 
river  Tees,  and  called  lyery,  or  double  leyered,  that  is,  black  fleshed ; 
and  the  flesh,  (for  it  does  not  deserve  to  be  called  beef,)  is  black 
and  coarse  grained  a.s  horse  flesh." 


112  CATTLE. 

Mr.  Berry,  in  h\s  Jirst  history  (of  1824),  says  positively,  that  "  Sir 
William  St!  Quintin,  of  Scampston,  imported  cows  and  bulls  from 
Holland."  In  his  second,  (page  96  of  this  volume,)  he  qualijies  this 
positive  assertion  to  the  following,  viz.:  "  it  is  asserted  that  about  the 
period  in  question  (1740)  Sir  William  St.  Quintin,  of  Scampston,  im- 
ported bulls  and  cows  from  Holland." 

Mr.  Bailey,  in  his  Agrlcultm-al  Survey  of  Durham,  says :  "  an  at- 
tempt to  imjprove  the  Teeswater  breed  (which  I  suppose  was  more 
with  regard  to  size  than  any  other  quality,)  was  made  by  Mr.  Mi- 
chael Dobison,  of  the  Isle,  near  Sedgefield,  who  brought  a  bull  out 
of  Holland,  that  is  said  to  have  improved  the  breed.  A  few  years 
after,  some  other  adventurers  went  over  to  Holland,  and  as  great 
bulls  were  then  considered  the  criterion  of  perfection,  they  brought 
home  a  complete  lyery  animal  with  immense  buttocks,  which  did  a 
great  deal  of  mischief ;  but  there  were  some  intelligent  breeders  that 
steered  clear  of  this  evil ;  and  from  them  the  pure  Teeswater  breed 
has  descended  to  the  present  time." 

All  the  authorities  for  importations  of  Dutch  cattle  from  Holland 
to  England,  last  century,  have  here  been  quoted.  Mr.  Youatt  had  ob- 
viously investigated  this  point,  and  he  says  :  "  At  what  particular  time 
they  found  their  way  to  England,  or  by  whom  they  were  imported, 
is  unknown  ;  but  there  is  a  tradition,  that  towards  the  close  of  the 
seventeeth  century,  (prior  to  1*700,)  a  bull  and  some  cows  were  m- 
troduced  into  Holderness."  He  does  not  mention  Michael  Dobison. 
Mr.  Berry  states  that  "  it  is  asserted  that  Sir  William  St.  Quintin,  of 
Scampston,  (which  is  in  Holderness,  Yorkshire,)  imported  bulls  and 
cows  from  Holland  ;"  but  he  does  not  mention  Dobison  in  either  of 
his  histories.  Mr.  Culley  states :  "  I  remember  a  Michael  Dobison, 
who  went  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  into  Holland,  to  buy  bulls,  and 
I  have  been  told  these  bulls  did  much  service  in  improving  the 
breed."  Martin,  in  his  history  of  cattle,  says,  "  by  what  crosses  the 
Teeswater  strain  became  established,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  say  ; 
there  is,  we  believe,  soiiie  reason  for  thinking  that  one  was  with  the 
semi-wild  white  breed,  and  another  with  choice  cattle,  imported  di- 
rectly from  Holland."  Martin,  one  of  the  scientific  officers  of  the 
Zoological  Society  of  London,  is  distinguished  for  his  extended  re- 
search in  the  department  of  the  history  of  cattle.  Both  Martin  and 
Youatt  quote  Culley  ;  and  neither  gives  any  credit  to  the  assertion 
that  Dobison  imported  bulls  from  Holland.  Bailey,  in  his  Survey  ot 
Durham,  gives  it  little  or  no  credit,  saying  that  it  is  said  that  Dobi- 
son's  bull  improved  the  breed  ;  and  yet  Bailey  distinctly  states  his 
belief  that  Dobison's  attempt  to  improve  the  Teeswater  cattle  was 
moi-e  with  regard  to  size  than  any  other  quality. 

The  elder  Mr.  Colling,  father  of  Charles  and  Robert  Colling,  was 
contempoianeous  with  Dobison,  and  lived  within  five  miles  of  him. 
Mr.  Culley  was  bom  in  1*735,  at  Denton,  within  fifteen  miles  of  Dobi- 


SHORT-HORNS.  113 

son,  and  resided  at  Denton  until  he  was  thirty-two  years  old,  and 
knew  Dobison  personally.  Mr.  Bailey  knew  both  Mr.  Colling,  Sen., 
and  Mr.  Culley.  Bailey  began  his  investigations  in  1795,  and  Cul- 
ley  wrote  in  1*785.  Mr.  Bailey  names  Thomas  Corner,  who  was 
ninety  years  old  at  the  time,  as  his  authority  for  saying  that  "  Mr. 
Milbank,  of  Barningham,  and  Mr.  Croft,  of  Barford,  were  the  most 
eminent  breeders,  and  were  considered  as  having  the  best  and  purest 
breed,  at  that  period  ;"  "  and  Mr.  George  Culley  says  that  he  has 
repeatedly  heard  his  father  state  the  same  particulars.^'  Can  there  be 
a  doubt  that  Mr.  Bailey  and  Mr.  Culley,  had  ample  means  to  know 
every  particular  as  to  Mr.  Dobison  ?  and  they  communicate  nothing. 
They  record  a  tradition,  and  do  no  more.  This  Jloating  tradition  of  an 
importation,  found  a  resting  place  in  Holderness,  with  St.  Quintin ; 
and  in  Durham,  with  Dobison. 

It  was  about  1750  that  Dobison  lived  at  the  Isle,  and  was  breed- 
ing.    Bailey  fixes  this  period. 

Now,  at  the  period,  at  which  it  is  said  there  were  bulls  and  cows 
imported  from  Holland  by  Dobison,  Sir  William  St.  Quintin,  and 
others,  there  existed  a  statute  of  Parliament,  forbidding  the  importa- 
tion of  cattle  into  England. 

In  the  ]  8th  year  of  the  reign  of  Charles  11.,  which  was  the  year 
l&GO,  the  Parliament  of  England  passed  an  act  providing  as  follows : 

*'  The  Importation  of  all  great  Cattle  shall  be  deemed  a  common 
Nuisance.  If  any  (except  for  the  necessary  provision  of  the  Ship,) 
shall  be  imported  from  beyond  Sea,  any  Constable,  Churchwarden, 
&c.,  of  the  place,  may  seize  the  same,  and  if  the  owner  shall  not 
within  forty-eight  hours,  prove  such  Cattle  were  not  imported,  the 
same  to  be  forfeited." 

And  to  this  were  added  penalties  against  the  importer.  From 
that  time  until  the  year  1841,  that  act  Was  unrepealed,  and  was 
always  enforced,  except  from  1801  to  1814. 

By  a  statute  of  Parliament  made  in  the  39th  year  of  the  reign  of 
George  III.,  (which  was  the  year  1799,)  it  was  enacted  that  "a 
discretionary  power  is  hereby  vested  in  His  Majesty,  to  permit  from 
Time  to  Time,  the  Importation  of  all  Articles  of  Provisions  ;  Bulls, 
Cows,  Calves,  Oxen,  Sheep,  Lambs,  and  Swine." 

And  by  order  in  Council,  made  in  1801,  it  was  directed  that  "A 
free  Importation  of  Articles  of  Provisions,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  Swine, 
be  permitted  for  six  months,  from  the  date  of  this  order ;"  and  like 
orders  from  six  months  to  six  months  were  made  in  Council  from 
1801  to  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1814,  when  they  ceased.  Ex- 
cepting this  period,  from  1801  to  1814,  the  importation  of  cattle 
was  prohibited  altogether  from  1666  to  1841.  The  king  and  his 
council  had  no  power  to  permit  importation  until  the  act  of  Parlia- 
meot  in  1799  was  passed. 

Mr.  JohB  Hutchinson,  the  well-known  banker  of  Stockton,  county 


114  ^  CATTLE. 


of  Durham,  and  breeder  of  short-horns,  had  an  examination  made  of 
the  records  of  the  various  ports  in  his  vicinity,  viz.,  New-Castle, 
Sunderland,  and  Stockton,  and  found  that  no  cattle  from  1666  to 
1821  had  ever  been  imported  at  any  time  into  Stockton,  and  into 
New-Castle  and  Sunderland,  only  during  the  period  of  permission 
from  1801  to  1814.  In  his  history  and  pedigrees  of  his  own  short- 
horns, he  states  these  examinations,  and  denying  an  importation  of 
Dutch  cattle,  by  Dobison,  says  :  "  I  should  like  to  know  when  Mi- 
chael Dobison  of  the  Isle  took  his  trip  to  Holland,  to  select  bulls  to 
improve  the  breed  ?  Nay,  I  will  not  be  very  particular,  only  let  me 
know  in  what  k'mg^s  reign  it  was,  and  I  shall  be  satisfied.  Thus  it 
appears  that  all  that  has  been  written  about  these  importations  of 
Dutch  animals  is  not  to  be  depended  on."  Mr.  J.  Hutchinson,  and 
his  brother,  were  contemporaneous  with  the  Collings  ;  and  their 
uncle,  who  died  in  1789,  and  whose  stock  they  inherited,  was  con- 
temporaneous with  Dobison. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Bates,  of  Kirkleavington, 
Eng.,  was  informed  by  Mr.  Christopher  Hill,  collector  of  the  port  of 
Sunderland,  that  he  had  made  an  examination  by  correspondence 
with  the  various  collectors  of  the  ports  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Eng- 
land, from  Berwick  in  Scotland,  to  London,  and  that  the  records  of 
the  customs  in  those  ports  furnished  no  proof  of  the  importation  of 
any  cattle  from  1666  to  1*796.  Mr.  Christopher  Hill  was  the  last  of 
the  family  of  that  name,  distinguished  as  breeders  of  short-horns  at 
Blackwell.  He  parted  with  his  stock  entirely  in  1790,  and  was  in 
1794  appointed  collector  of  the  port  of  Sunderland. 

With  all  this  evidence,  who  for  a  moment  can  believe  in  the  im- 
portation, some  time  in  the  last  century,  of  Dutch  cattle  to  the  county 
of  Durham,  and  their  being  used  to  improve  the  short-horns.  The 
Mr.  Milbank  of  1740,  of  Barningham,  first  mentioned  by  Mr.  Bailey, 
was  prior  in  point  of  time  to  Mr.  Dobison,  and  there  is  no  pretence 
that  any  Dutch  cattle  were  imported  until  Dobison 's  time.  Sir  Wil- 
liam St.  Quintin  was  breeding  about  1760  to  1780,  subsequently  to 
Mr.  Dobison,  and  died  in  1795.  Of  course  Mr.  Milbank  could  have 
had  no  Dutch  blood  in  his  cattle  ;  and  Mr.  Baily  expressly  mentions 
him,  and  Mr.  Croft  of  Barford,  as  among  those  "  intelligent  breeders 
that  steered  clear  of  this  evil,  [the  Dutch  blood,]  and  from  them  the 
pure  Teeswater  breed  has  descended  to  the  jircsent  time."  The 
other  breeders  of  that  period  who  were  noted  with  Wilbank  and 
Croft,  were  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Appleby,  of  Aldborough,  Mr.  Best, 
and  Mr.  Watson  of  Mansfield;  Mr.  Waistel,  of  Great  Burdon  ;  Mr. 
Stephenson,  of  Ketton  ;  Mr.  Harrison,  of  Barmpton  ;  Mr.  John  Hall, 
of  Haughton  Hill ;  Mr.  Sharter  of  Chilton;  Mr.  Pickering,  of  Fox- 
ton  ;  and  Mr.  Bamlet,  of  Norton.  These  are  named  particularly,  as 
from  the  herds  of  every  one  of  them,  Charles  and  Robert  Colling 
derived  animals,  either  directly,  or  from  intermediate  breeders. 


SHORT-HORNS.  115 


Suppose  we  admit  that  St.  Quintin,  and  Dobison  and  his  successors, 
imported  Dutch  cattle.  Both  Culley  and  Bailey  say  that  DobLson 
and  his  successors  brought  only  bulls  from  Holland ;  and  the  one 
says  that  "it  is  said,''  and  the  other  that  "/  have  been  told,"  that 
the  Dutch  bull  of  Dobison  did  good  ;  both  say  that  the  other  Dutch 
bulls  did  harm  ;  and  Bailey  says  that  "  there  were  some  intelligent 
breeders  who  steered  clear  of  this  evil,  and  from  them  the  jmre  Tees- 
writer  breed  has  descended  to  the  present  time."  Then  it  was  only  from 
Dobison's  bull  that  the  Dutch  blood  could  get  into  the  short-horns ; 
the  race  of  short-horns  was  there  before  that  bull  came, /or  Dobison 
and  his  fellow  importers  brought  no  cows  from  Holland.  The  only 
person  who  is  said  to  have  imported  cows  as  well  as  bulls  from  Hol- 
land, was  Sir  William  St.  Quintin.  It  is  said  that  Sir  James  I'eany- 
man  got  his  cattle  from  St.  Quintin,  and  that  he  gave  a  bxl  and 
cows  to  George  Snowdon ;  that,  Snowdon's  bull  having  the  Dutch 
blood,  of  course  Hubback  had  it,  as  Hubback  was  by  Snowdon's 
bull ;  that  Hubback's  blood  is  in  all  well  descended  (perhaps  all) 
short-horns,  therefore  the  Dutch  blood  is  in  all  short-horns.  But  it 
is  not  the  fact  that  Penny  man  gave  a  bull  and  cows  to  Snowden  ;  nor 
is  there  any  evidence  to  show  that  Snowdon's  bull  and  cows  were  of 
Pennyman's  blood.  This  will  be  shown  under  the  head  of  remarks  on 
Hubback's  pedigree.  Then  the  Dutch  blood,  that  is  now  to  be 
deemed  a  part  of  the  blood  of  short-horns,  must  all  come  from  Dobi- 
son's bull.  In  the  days  of  the  Collings  it  must  have  been  reduced 
to  at  most  a  one  thousandth  part ;  what  part  must  it  be  now  ?  Deci- 
mal fractions  could  hardly  compute  it.  If  the  short-horns  have  it, 
they  cannot  be  good  in  consequence  of  it,  for  it  is  too  incalculably 
small  to  have  the  least  influence.  But  the  statute  of  Charles  II. 
cuts  off  all  chance  for  even  this  infinitesmal  decimal  of  Dutch  blood 
in  short-horns. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  originally  the  short-horns  came  from 
the  continent.  But  it  was  many  hundred  years  since,  though  at 
what  time  no  one  can  say.  It  is  not  claimed  by  any  one  that  they 
were  imported  in  the  last  century  ;  only  that  they  were  improved  by 
bulls  imported  from  Holland.  Culley  says,  "  in  all  the  accounts  ot 
cattle  in  this  island,  which  I  have  seen  in  deeds  or  statutes,  they  are 
called  black  cattle.  Now,  does  this  not  strengthen  the  opinion  of 
the  short-horned  breeds  being  introduced  from  the  continent,  some- 
time after  our  sea-coasts  and  low  country  ivere  improved  and  inclosed  j 
and  before  that  period,  is  it  not  probable  we  had  mostly  the  small 
black  cattle,  which  are  still  to  be  met  with  in  all  the  wild  mountain- 
ous parts  of  Wales  and  Scotland  ?"  Again  he  says,  "  it  is  pretty 
evident  that  owr  f.r fathers  have  imported  the  short-horned  breed  of 
cattle  from  the  continent."  Berry,  in  \\\&  first  history  (of  1824)  says 
**  there  exists  authentic  evidence  of  facts,  which  place  the  short- 
horns on  a  level,  at  leasts  with  any  of  their  rivals,  howsoever  high  the 


116  CATTLE. 


antiquity  (hey  hoast.'*  Martin  says,  "In  Groningen,  Friesland,  Guil- 
derland,  Utrecht,  and  Holland,  a  fine  short-horned  race  of  cattle  has 
long  existed.  This  ancient  short-horn  race  may  in  fact  be  traced 
from  Jutland  and  Holstein  (both  in  Denmark),  along  the  western 
portions  of  Europe,  through  the  Netherlands  (Holland  and  Belgium), 
to  the  borders  of  France.  In  reference  to  our  (the  English)  short- 
horned  breed,  Mr.  Culley  says  '  there  are  many  reasons  for  thinking 
this  breed  has  been  imported  from  the  continent.'  " 

The  trreat  argument,  however,  for  the  continental  origin  is,  un- 
doubtedly, that  the  short-horns,  a  local  breed  in  four  counties  only 
of  England,  had  no  congener  or  allied  breed  elsewhere  in  England, 
but  found  it  only  on  the  continent,  from  Denmark  to  Belgium.  The 
Danes  ravaged  all  the  region  from  Denmark  to  France,  for  more  than 
one  hundred  years,  from  850  to  950,  and  in  8*75  conquered  the 
kingdom  of  Northumbria,  which  comprised  the  counties  of  Yorkshire, 
Durham,  and  Northumberland,  in  England,  and  held  it,  either  inde- 
pendently or  by  paying  tribute,  for  nearly  two  hundred  years,  and 
until  subjected  and  incorporated  with  England,  as  one  kingdom,  by 
William  the  Conqueror.  At  what  time  the  short-horns  were  brought 
to  these  Danish  counties  in  England,  is  unknown  ;  but  it  is  probable 
as  many  as  seven  or  eight  centuries  since.  There  is  a  cow  sculptured 
on  the  west  corner  tower  of  the  eastern  transept  of  the  cathedral  of 
the  city  of  Durham,  commemorating  a  tradition  as  to  the  cathedral ; 
and  in  every  respect  the  effigy  presents  a  short-horned  cow.  This 
transept  was  begun  to  be  built  in  the  year  1235,  and  was  finished 
by  Prior  Hotoun  about  1300,  he  dying  in  1308. 

But  it  is  conceded  by  all  authorities  that  the  short-horns  have 
existed  for  ages  in  Durham  ;  the  question  is  what  were  the  means 
used  to  improve  them  up  to  their  present  perfection.  Some  say  by 
selections  among  the  race  itself ;  others  claim  that  bulls  were  im- 
ported from  Holland,  and  crossed  on  them  ;  that  the  white  wild 
breed  of  Chillingham  and  Chatelherault  (Cadyow)  Parks,  and  even 
the  Alderneys,  were  used.  As  to  the  Alderney,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  not  one  of  the  historians  of  English  cattle,  Culley,  Berry,  Mar- 
tin, Youatt,  mentions  this  cross,  and  therefore  it  is  not  worth  refuta- 
tion. As  to  the  cross  with  the  white  wild  breed,  it  is  a  mere  con- 
jecture, and  is  only  mentioned  by  Berry  and  Martin ;  Culley  says 
nothing  of  it. 

2.  It  is  not  true  that,  about  one  hundred  years  since,  the  breeders 
of  short-horns,  in  the  pretended  improvement,  "  proceeded  on  a 
judicious  system  of  crossing  with  other  breeds  ;  and  one  to  which 
they  referred  was,  in  all  probability,  the  white  wild  breed." 

From  the  earliest  period  white  cattle  were  known  in  Jutland, 
Holstein,  (Denmark,)  Hanover,  Oldenburgh,  and  Holland.  From  the 
earliest  accounts  we  have  of  the  short-horn  in  England,  the  white  is 
known   to  have  existed  very   anciently.     The  source  then  of  the 


SHORT-HORNS.  117 


white  color  is  very  evident ;  it  came  from  the  continent  to  England 
with  the  short-horns  themselves.  Bailey,  in  his  Survey  of  Durham, 
(1810,)  says  that  "about  seventy  years  since,  the  colors  of  the  cattle 
of  Mr.  Milbank  and  Mr.  Croft,  were  red  and  white,  and  white  with 
a  little  red  about  the  neck,  or  roan.  This  information  was  commu- 
cated  by  Mr.  Thomas  Corner,  now  near  ninety  years  of  age  ;  and 
Mr.  George  Culley  says  that  he  has  repeatedly  heard  his  father 
state  the  same  particulars."  This  refers  to  the  period  prior  to  1*740. 
Now,  at  this  period,  1740,  there  were  no  wild  cattle  except  in  Chil- 
lingham  Park,  Northumberland,  Craven  Park,  Yorkshire,  and  Cha- 
telheraut  Park,  Lanarkshire,  Scotland.  Mr.  Berry  fixes  the  period 
of  1*740  as  the  time  at  about  which  the  improvements  by  supposed 
crossing  were  made  in  the  short-horns.  Then  the  persons  making 
the  cross  must  have  gone  to  one  of  these  parks  for  the  means.  What 
is  the  character  of  these  cattle?  CuUey  in  1785  described  them 
thus : — "  Their  color  is  invariably  a  creamy  white,  muzzle  black,  the 
whole  of  the  inside  of  the  ear,  and  about  one-third  of  the  outside, 
from  the  tips  downward,  red,  horns  white  with  black  tips,  very  fine 
and  bent  upward ;  some  of  the  bulls  have  a  thin  upright  mane 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  or  two  inches  long."  Such  they  are  now, 
and  a  personal  inspection  of  them  authorizes  the  statement,  Mr. 
Culley  omitted  to  say  that  they  have  a  dull  ferocious  eye,  encircled  by 
a  black  ring.  If  this  was  the  cross  which  gave  the  white  color  to 
short-horns,  it  would  as  certainly  have  given  the  black  nose,  the  black 
tipped  horn,  and  the  dull  ferocious  eye  with  its  black  rim.  Was  a 
short-horn  of  known  purity,  of  vjhite  color,  with  these  characters,  ever 
seen  ?  The  internal  evidence  is  then  against  this  cross  having  been 
made.  But  the  thought  of  this  cross  is  of  recent  origin,  not  dating 
back  farther  than  thirty  years ;  and  is  only  a  supposition  at  best. 
The  white  color  then  is  original  with  the  short-horns,  and  came  not 
from  the  white  wild  breed. 

3.  It  is  not  true  that  C.  CoUing  exclusively  improved  the  short- 
horns, or  bred  beiior  ones  than  he  originally  obtained  to  breed  from. 

Mr.  Berry  in  both  his  histories  gives  no  one  credit  for  improvement 
in  the  short-horns  but  to  Charles  Colling.  Except  with  Mr.  Berry, 
it  has  always  been  conceded  that  his  brother  Robert  Colling  was 
quite  as  good  a  breeder  as  Charles.  They  commenced  their  breed- 
ing together,  got  cows  from  the  same  sources  in  several  instances, 
and  interchanged  bulls  throughout  their  joint  career.  If  a  pre- 
ference was  given  to  either,  it  would  seem  to  have  been  rather  to 
Robert  than  Charles.  Three  of  their  contemporaries,  who  were  fa- 
miliar with  their  cattle,  and  two  of  them  their  intimate  personal 
friends,  and,  from  capacity  and  circumstances,  the  best  of  judges,  are 
quoted. 

Mr.  Bailey,  in  his  Survey  of  Durham,  says,  "  Messrs.  Collings'  have 
frequently  sold  cows  and  heifers  for  £100  ;  and  bull  calves  at  £100. 


118  CATTLE. 

These  gentlemen  let  bulls  out  by  the  year ;  the  prices  from  60  to 
100  guineas;  and  the  public  are  so  fully  convinced  of  their  merits, 
that  these  celebrated  breeders  cannot  supply  the  demand  from  the 
pure  blood."  There  seems  no  distinction  here  between  the  two  brothers, 
and  in  Bailey's  whole  account  there  is  no  indication  that  either  he 
or  the  public  thought  Charles  superior  to  Robert. 

The  celebrated  Thomas  Bates,  of  Kirkleavington,  was  the  intimate 
friend  of  both  the  Collings  ;  and  bought  cattle  of  Charles,  deriving 
from  him  his  famous  Duchess  tribe.  No  man  ever  had  a  fuller 
knowledge  of  the  cattle  of  the  two  brothers  than  he  ;  and  he  was,  as 
a  judge,  unsurpassed.  His  merits  as  a  breeder  are  such  that  in 
modern  days  no  man  in  public  estimation  has  excelled  him.  The 
sale,  in  1850,  of  his  cattle  realized  higher  prices  than  any  other  since 
the  days  of  the  Collings.  Mr.  Bates,  in  a  letter  in  the  New  Farmer's 
Journal,  says  :  "  The  superiority  of  the  stock  of  Mr.  R.  Colling's 
White  Bull  (151)  over  Favorite's  stock  (252)  Avas  evident  to  me  in 
1804 — and  was  admitted  by  Mr.  C.  Colling — and  I  would  gladly 
have  then  given  100  guineas  to  have  had  my  first  Duchess  bulled  by 
him,  but  I  could  not  obtain  it  on  any  terms,  and  it  was  twenty-seven 
years  afterwards  before  I  obtained  the,  same  blood  in  Belvedere, 
(1706)."  No  one  ever  doubted  Mr.  Bates'  judgment;  and  he  never 
had  any  of  Robert  Colling's  blood,  until  he  got  it  in  Belvedere,  Marske, 
and  Red  Rose,  years  after  this, 

Mr.  John  Hutchinson,  the  banker  and  breeder,  in  the  history  of 
his  own  short-horns,  comparing  the  cattle  of  the  two  Collings,  and 
particularly  in  quality,  "  and  their  length  of  mossy  hair,  their  neat- 
ness of  shape,  quick  prominent  eyes,  and  short  legs,"  says :  "  Welling- 
ton and  Barmpton  were  surely  the  neatest,  the  softest,  and  the 
shortest  legged  of  his  bulls,  as  was  Moss  Rose,  of  his  cows,  and  had 
more  highland-like  hair — like  all  their  descendants — than  any  I  have 
seen  of  the  Kettons  (Charles  Colling's)."  And  speaking  of  Robert 
Colling's  cow  Nonpareil,  he  says,  "  which  I  have  heard  called  the 
finest  cow  (perhaps)  ever  seen."  Mr.  Hutchinson  never  used  a  bull 
of  Mr.  R.  Colling's  i)reeding,  save  two,  but  did  several  of  Charles's, 
indeed  as  many  as  eight  or  nine,  and  was  more  interested  in  Charles's 
blood  than  in  Robert's. 

It  is  evident  that,  at  least,  Charles  Colling  was  not  superior  tc 
Robert,  as  a  breeder. 

Now  let  us  see  if  Charles  CohiUg  was  superior  to  the  breeders  ol 
1785,  the  period  when  he  commenced  his  breeding.  The  character 
of  the  famous  bull  Hubback  is  so  well  known,  as  the  best  bull  the 
ColHngs  ever  owned,  that  not  a  word  is  necessary  to  establish  this 
point.  By  common  consent,  every  historian  of  short-horns  re- 
cognizes the  wonderful  merit  of  Hubback.  Major  Rudd,  a  large 
purchaser  at  C.  CoUing's  sale,  says  of  Hubback,  that  he  *'  was  the 
main  root  of  the  improved  short-horns  ;"  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  Bays, 


SHORT-HORNS.  lu 


"  The  bull  Hubback  being  now  pronounced  the  grand  cause  of  irri' 
provement  of  the  Ketton  and  Barmptons,  it  behooves  every  breeder 
to  prove  his  stock  related  to  this  wonderful  animal."  Yet  Mr.  Hun- 
ter bred  Hubback,  and  not  Charles  Colling. 

Mr.  Bates  in  a  letter  relating  to  his  Duchess  tribe  of  cattle,  says, 
"  I  purchased  my  original  cow  of  this  tribe  of  cattle,  of  the  late 
Charles  Colling,  Esq.,  of  Ketton ;  they  had  been  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Colling  twenty  years,  who  purchased  his  original  cow  from  Stan- 
wix,  and  called  her  Duchess,  which  Mr.  C.  Colling  repeatedly  assured 
me  was  the  best  he  ever  had  or  ever  saw,  and  that  he  never  was  able  to 
improve  upon  her,  although  put  to  his  best  bulls." 

Mr.  Charles  Colling  never  bred  out  of  the  cow  Lady  Maynard, 
(Favorite),  so  good  and  fine  a  cow  as  she  was  herself.  Mr.  A.  B.  Allen, 
editor  of  the  Agriculturist,  in  his  "  History  and  Traditions  of  Short- 
horn Cattle,"  says  :  "  It  was  conceded  by  a'  company  of  old  breeders 
in  1812,  in  discussing  the  question  of  the  improvement  of  short- 
horns, that  no  stock  of  Mr.  Colling's  breeding  ever  equalled  "  Lady 
Maynard,"  the  dam  of  Phoenix  and  grandam  of  Favorite."  And  Mr. 
Bates  states  the  same  as  having  again  taken  place  in  1822,  at  an- 
other meeting  of  old  breeders,  of  whom  Mr.  Colling  was  one ;  and 
that  Mr.  C.  himself  admitted  that  he  had  never,  in  the  descendants 
of  Lady  Maynard,  bred  anything  better  than  herself. 

It  is  evident  from  these  authorities,  that  Mr.  C.  Colling  procured 
originally  some  animals,  than  which  he  never  bred  anything  better ; 
and  beside  those  named,  this  was  the  case  with  Haughton,  by  Hub- 
back,  bought  by  Mr.  Colling  of  Alexander  Hall ;  and  the  original  of 
the  Daisy  tribe,  bought  of  Mr.  Waistel,  of  Great  Burdon.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  he  obtained  the  very  best  material,  for  his  breeding,  to 
be  had.     His  brother  Robert  did  the  same. 

Hutchinson  sajs,  "  no  breeders  acted  with  so  much  foresight  and 
sound  policy — for  who  but  themselves,  would  have  thought  of  feed- 
ing any  animal  from  calf  hood  until  seven  years  of  age,  in  so  extrava- 
gant a  manner  as  the  White  Heifer  (and  the  Durham  Ox)  was  fed 
and  made  a  monster  of.  The  scheme  was  a  deep  one,  and  succeeded 
to  a  miracle.  She,  (as  well  as  the  Durham  ox,)  was  shown  all  over 
the  kingdom,  and  raised  the  character  of  their  breed,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  world,  to  the  highest  pitch  of  eminence." 

Great  credit  is  due  to  the  Messrs.  Colling  for  the  herds  they 
i  eared  and  disseminated ;  and  while  it  is  true  that  in  their  careei 
they  had  the  best  herds  then  in  existence,  it  is  equally  true  that  they 
never  bred  better  animals  than  they  procured  originally,  with  which 
to  commence  breeding. 

The  obv-iius  and  great  merit  of  the  Collings  was,  that  they 
brought  the  short-horns  into  general  notice,  out  of  a  local  reputation^ 
and  made  them  as  well  known  abroad  as  they  were  in  the  valley  of 
the  Tees  river ;  not  that  they  improved  on  their  good  originals. 


120  Cattle. 


4.  Mr.  C.  Colling  did  not  reduce  the  size  of  his  short-horns,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  increased  it. 

Hubback  was  a  small  bull.  Mr.  Berry,  supposing  a  reduction  of 
size  aimed  at,  says,  (at  page  97,)  "the  quality  of  his  flesh,  hide, 
and  hair  are  supposed  to  have  been  seldom  equalled  ;  and  as  he  was 
smaller  than  the  Teeswater  cattle,  he  was  eminently  calculated  to 
forward  Mr.  Colling's  views."  Mr,  Foss,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son, says  the  dam  of  Hubback  was  a  "  beautiful  little  short-horned 
cow."     Smallness  of  size  was  then  a  family  trait  with  Hubback. 

It  is  also  known  that  Mr.  Colling's  cows,  Haughton,  by  Hubback, 
bought  of  Alexander  Hall ;  Lady  Maynard,  and  her  daughter,  Young 
Strawberry,  bought  of  Mr.  Maynard,  were  all  small  cows.  Haughton 
was  the  dam  of  the  bull  Foljambe,  (a  large  one,)  bred  by  Mr.  Col- 
ling, got  by  Barker's  h\A\,  (a  very  large  one);  Young  Strawberry, 
the  dam  of  Bolingbroke,  (a  medium  sized  bull,)  got  by  Foljambe  ; 
and  Lady  Maynard,  the  dam  of  Phoenix,  (a  very  large  cow).  Fa- 
vorite— a  very  large  hull — was  got  by  Bolingbroke,  out  of  Phoenix. 

Favorite  was  calved  in  1793,  eight  years  after  C.  Colling  began  to 
breed  ;  and  beginning  in  1795,  he  scarcely  used  any  other  bull  for 
ten  years  ;  putting  him  to  his  own  daughters,  even  in  the  second 
generation,  (as  by  Favorite,  dam  by  Favorite,  grandam  by  Favorite). 
In  the  catalogue  of  his  sale,  of  the  forty-seven  animals  named,  forty- 
three  were  got  by  Favorite  and  his  sons,  and  all  save  one  were  got 
by  Favorite,  his  sons,  and  grandsons. 

Mr.  R.  Waistell,  son  of  the  Mr.  Waistell  who  jointly  with  R.  Col- 
ling owned  Hubback,  says  as  to  Foljambe  : — "  He  was  a  large  strong 
bull,  a  useful,  great,  big,  hony  beast,  of  great  substance."  Mr. 
Waistell  also  says,  "  Favorite  was  a  grand  beast,  very  large,  and 
open,  had  a  fine  brisket,  with  a  good  coat,  and  was  as  good  a  hand- 
ler as  ever  was  felt."  Mr.  Allen,  in  his  "  History  and  Traditions," 
says,  "  Phoenix,  the  dam  of  Favorite,  was  a  large  'open  honed  cow, 
with  more  horn,  and  altogether  coarser  than  her  dam,  the  beautiful 
Ladv  Maynard  ;"  and  again,  "  Favorite  was  a  large  massy  animal, 
-partaking  more  of  the  character  of  his  dam  Phoenix,  than  that  of  his 
sire.  He  possessed  remarkably  good  loins,  and  long  level  hind 
quarters ;  his  shoulder  points  stood  wide,  and  were  somewhat  coarse, 
and  too  forward  in  the  neck  ;  his  horns  also,  in  comparison  with 
Hubback's,  were  long  and  strong." 

Col.  Trotter,  an  old  breeder,  born  in  1764,  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Bates,  says  that  "  Barker's  bull,  (sire  of  Foljambe,)  was  a  large  coarse 
beast,  with  a  large  head." 

Of  the  get  of  Favorite,  Mr.  Berry,  in  his  history — pages  99-104 — 
mentions  two — the  Durham  Ox,  and  Robert  Colling's  White  Heifer; 
the  ox's  live  weight  was  3780  lbs!  the  heifer's  dead  weight  at  four 
years  was  estimated  at  1820  lbs!  Her  live  weight  could  not  have 
been  less  than   2300  lbs  !  doubtless  the  largest  four  year  old  short- 


SHORT-HORNS.  121 

horn  heifer  ever  known.  The  Durham  Ox  was  the  largest  short-horn 
one  ever  kno\vn,  except  the  Spottiswood  Ox.  Mr.  Colling  fed  and 
sold,  in  1799,  a  heifer  b}'  Favorite,  which  Berry  states  in  his  first 
history,  "weighed,  at  three  years  old,  one  hundred  stones,  (1400 
lbs  I)  within  a  few  pounds."  Her  live  weight  must  have  been  1700 
lbs. — a  wonderful  three  year  old  heifer. 

It  will  be  seen  that  here  are  three  animals,  the  only  ones  bred  by 
Colling  whose  weights  are  on  record,  that  have  no  superiors  (indeed 
where  are  their  equals  ?)  in  point  of  wonderful  weight  in  all  the  re- 
cords of  short-horns. 

To  attain  these  extraordinary  weights,  they  must  not  only  have 
been  very  deep  fleshed  and  very  fat,  but  must  have  had  large,  very- 
large,  frames,  to  give  the  space  to  make  such  great  weights. 

Can  there  be  a  doubt  that  Charles  Colling  increased  the  size  of  his 
cattle  ?  Mr.  Berry  in  his  first  history  me-ntions  nothing  of  a  reduc- 
tion of  size,  and  notliing  of  the  Galloway  cross ;  yet  when  he  pro- 
poses in  his  second  history  to  show  the  excellence  of  the  alloy,  as 
the  Galloways  are  a  very  small  breed,  it  became  necessary  to  dis- 
cover that  Mr.  Colling  had  reduced  the  size  of  his  cattle.  Mr.  Berry 
states,  that  Mr.  Colling  always  "declined  on  all  occasions  to  throw 
any  hght  on  his  views  and  proceedings."  Of  course  Berry  got  no 
authority  from  Mr.  Colling  for  this  alleged  reduction  of  size,  but  is 
himself  the  originator  of  the  supposition.  Facts,  and  the  history  of 
the  Short-Horns,  contradict  him. 

5.  Hubback  was  a  pure  short-horn — had  no  Dutch  blood ;  and 
was  vigorous  until  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  was  killed. 

In  his  second  history  Berry  says  (page  97),  "  Hubback,  an  animal 
respecting  which  there  has  been  much  controversy,  principally 
touching  the  purity  of  his  blood,  a  question  now  of  little  importance, 
because  it  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that  Mr.  Colling  adopted  another 
cross,  which  prevails  in  a  majority  of  superior  short-horns  of  the 
present  day."  "  Without  entering  on  an  inquiry  by  what  circum- 
stances Hubback's  title  to  be  considered  of  pure  blood  is  supported 
or  weakened,  it  may  suffice  to  observe,  that  it  appears  probable  he 
possessed  on  one  side  the  imported  [Dutch]  blood.  The  possessor 
of  his  dam  was  a  person  in  indigent  circumstances,  and  grazed  his 
cow  in  the  highways.  When  afterwards  she  was  removed  to  good 
land,  near  Darlington,  she  became  so  fat  that  she  did  not  breed 
again ;  and  her  son,  having  the  same  feeding  propensity  in  a  high 
degree,  was  useful  as  a  bull  during  a  very  short  period."  Such  is 
Mr.  Berry's  account. 

All  the  authorities  for  the  impurity  of  Hubback's  blood  shall  be 
quoted. 

Major  Rudd  in  1816  says,  "The  bull  Hubback  was  descended 
from  the  stock  of  Sir  James  Penny  man,  who,  about  the  year  1770, 
paid  much  attention  to  the  improvement  of  short-horned  cattle,  and 
6 


122  CATTLE. 


purchased  the  best  bulls  and  cows  he  could  procure.  He  purchased 
several  cows  of  Sir  Wm.  St.  Quintin,  of  Scampston,  who  was  then 
celebrated  for  his  breed  of  short-homed  cattle.  It  is  probable  that 
Hubback  may  have  been  descended  from  this  breed,  but  the  fact  can- 
not be  ascertained.''  Again,  in  1821,  he  says,  " '1  he  sire  of  Hubback 
was  descended  from  the  stock  of  Sir  William  St.  Quintin.  1  was 
intimately  acquainted  with  Sir  James  Pennyman's  steward,  who  has 
repeatedly  assured  me  that  Sir  James  told  him  that  his  breed  was  a 
cross  between  the  old  short-horn  and  the  Alderney.  Such,  then, 
being  the  pedigree  of  Hubback,  it  follows  that  all  the  improved 
short-horns  are  a  mixed  breed." 

And  again,  in  1831,  Major  Rudd  says,  "The  sire  of  Hubback  be- 
longed to  Mr.  George  Snowdon,  who  had  been  a  tenant  of  Sir  James 
Penny  man,  and  by  that  means  derived  his  bull.  It  is  certain  that 
the  late  Mr.  Robert  Colling  believed  the  descent  of  that  bull  to  be 
from  the  stock  of  Sir  J.  Pennyman  and  Sir  Wm.  St.  Quintin;  for  in 
his  catalogue  of  his  stock  in  1818,  he  deduces  the  pedigrees  from 
their  stock.  Uf  this  proof,  I  was  not  apprised  when  my  Notes  were 
published." 

That  it  nr  .y  be  seen  what  Major  Rudd  deems  proof,  derived  from 
R.  Colling  s  catalogue,  all  in  that  catalogue  that  relates  to  Pennyman 
and  St.  Quintm  is  given.  It  is  the  pedigree  of  one  cow  onlj/ — thus, 
*'  No.  3,  Juno,  by  Favorite  ;  dam  Wildair,  by  Favorite  ;  grandam,  by 
Ben  ;  great  grandam,  by  Hubback  ;  great  great  grandam,  by  sire 
(Snowdon's  bull)  of  Hubback  ;  great  great  great  giandam,  by  Sir 
James  Pennyman's  bull,  descended  from  the  stock  of  the  late  Sir 
W.  St.  Quintin,  of  Scampston."  it  will  be  observed  that  here  is  no 
pedigree  of  Hubback.  Major  Rudd  cites  this  pedigree  to  prove  that 
Hubha<k  was  descended  from  Pennyman's  stock,  and  that  R.  Colling 
so  believed  ;  Avhile  it  pr<  ves  cmly  that  Hubback  was  used  to  bull  a 
Cow  descended  from  Pennyman's  stock.  And  all  the  proof  used  to 
show  Hubback's  blood  impure,  is  about  as  worthless  as  this. 

The  proof  to  establish  the  purity  of  Hubback's  blood  is  full  and 
conclusive.  In  Coates'  "  Short-Horned  Herd  Book,"  his  pedigree  is 
thus  given  : 

"Hubback,  yellow-red,  and  white,  calved  in  1777,  bred  by  Mr. 
John  Hunter;  got  by  Mi»  George  Snowdon's  bull;  dam  (bred  by 
Mr.  John  Hunter)  by  a  bull  of  Mr.  Banks's  of  Hurworth  ;  grandam 
bought  of  Mr.  Stephenson,  of  Ketton.  Hubback,  by  Snowjdon's 
bull  (d.  from  the  Stock  of  Sir  James  Pennyman,  and  these  from  the 
Stock  of  Sir  William  St.  Quintin,  of  Scampston)  ;  Snowdon's  bull, 
by  W^illiam  Robson's  bull,  (bred  by  Mr.  Waistell,  of  Great  Burdon, 
near  Darlington,  dam  Mr.  Waistell's  roan  cow  Barforth)  ;  William 
Robson's  bull,  by  James  Masterman's  bull  (bred  by  Mr.  Walker, 
near  Leyburn)  ;  James  Mdstermau's  bull,  by  the  Studley  bull,  bred 
by  Mr.  Sharter  of  Chilton. 


SHORT-HORNS.  123 


"  The  following  account  of  the  pedigree  of  the  dam  of  Hubback 
was  given  to  the  author  (George  Coates)  by  the  undernamed  person: 
**  I  remember  the  cow  which  my  father  bred,  that  was  the  dam  of 
Hubback ;  there  was  no  idea  then  that  she  had  any  mixed  or  Kyloe 
blood  in  her.  Much  has  been  lately  said,  that  she  was  descended 
from  a  Kyloe  ;  but  I  have  no  reason  to  beheve,  nor  do  I  believe,  that 
she  had  any  mixture  of  Kyloe  blood  in  her. 

John  Hunter. 

Hurworth,  near  Darlington,  July  6th,  1822." 

George  Baker,  Esq.,  of  Elemore,  in  a  letter  to  the  Farmer's  Jour- 
nal, 1821,  says,  "Attempts  have  been  made,  by  hearsay  evidence 
and  otherwise,  to  question  the  blood  of  Hubback.  I  send  you  his 
pedigree.  I  have  the  authority  of  Mr.  Charles  Colling  to  say,  he 
always  considered  him  a  thorough-bred  short-horned  hull.  Mr.  John 
Hunter,  of  Hurworth,  who  sold  his  dam,  with  Hubback  at  her  foot, 
to  Mr.  Basnett,  of  Darlington,  says,  his  father  bought  her  grandam 
of  Mr.  Stephenson,  of  Ketton,  and  that  she  was  a  pure  bred  short- 
horn. Mr.  Alexander  Hall,  of  Sheraton  Hill  Top,  who  lived  in  that 
neighborhood,  and  i-emembei'S  her  and  the  calf  2)erfectly  well,  says,  she 
was  a  beautiful  color  and  handler,  and  when  she  got  on  to  good  land 
near  Darlington,  she  got  so  fat  she  would  not  breed  again.  Hub- 
back,  he  says,  was  got  by  Mr.  Snowdon's  bull,  (a  son  of  Mr.  Rob- 
son's  bull,  of  Dinsdale,  who  was  bred  by  old  Mr.  Waistell,  of  Bur- 
don,  a  very  noted  breeder,  and  got  by  Mr  James  Masterman's  bull, 
of  Coathani,  near  Darlington),  and  was  a  true  bred  short  horn.  The 
above  gentleman  will  attest  the  same  if  necessary." 

Mr.  Christopher  Foss,  in  a  letter  to  John  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  dated 
Nov.  30th,  1821,  says,  "  According  to  your  request,  I  called,  on  the 
22d  instant,  on  John  Hunter,  bricklayer,  of  Hurworth,  who  informed 
me  that  his  father  was  a  tenant  under  Madam  Bland.  About  fifty 
years  ago  [1*771],  as  near  as  he  could  recollect,  he  left  off  farming, 
and  came  to  Hurworth,  having  sold  off  all  his  cattle,  except  one 
beautiful  little  short-horned  cow,  which  he  brought  along  with  him. 
She  went  ever  after  in  the  lanes,  he  having  no  land.  On  calving  to 
a  bull  belonging  to  Mr.  George  Snowdon,  of  Hurworth,  a  bull  calf, 
she  and  her  calf  were  taken  to  Darlington,  and  sold  to  a  Quaker, 
wlio,  the  same  day,  resold  her  and  her  calf  to  a  Mr.  Basnett,  timber 
merchant." 

Mr.  Robert  Waistell,  of  Darlington,  son  of  Mr.  Waistell,  of  Alihill, 
owner  with  R.  Colling  of  Hubback,  says  that  "  The  farms  of  Barmp- 
ton  and  Alihill  join  each  other.  Robert  Colling  came  to  reside  at 
Barmpton  in  1*783,  having  taken  Barmpton  farm  in  the  spring  of  that 
year.  He  had  previously  resided  at  Hurworth.  At  that  time  Mr. 
Wm.  Fawcett  owned  Hubback,  and  lived  at  Haughton  Hill,  where 
Hubback  was  kept  and  let  to  cows  at  one  shilling  a  cow.  Mr.  Faw- 
cett bought  Hubback  when  a  calf  of  Mr.  Basnett.     My  father  pro- 


124  CATTLE. 


posed  to  Robert  Colling  to  buy  the  bull  together,  and  on  Good 
Friday,  178:^,  the  two  went  to  Haughton  Hill,  and  asked  a  price  of 
Fawcett  for  him,  and  ten  guineas  were  asked.  They  bid  him  eight 
guineas,  and  Fawcett  refused,  and  Mr.  R.  Colling  would  give  no 
more.  On  the  following  Sunday  my  father  went  and  bargained  for 
the  bull,  and  agreed  to  give  ten  guineas.  On  his  way  home,  he  met 
Robert  Colling,  and  said,  "  I  have  bought  Fawcett's  bull  at  ten 
guineas ;"  and  Colling  said,  "  I  will  take  half,"  and  so  it  was  agreed. 
My  father  went  for  the  bull  next  day,  Monday,  and  paid  the  ten 
guineas.  The  two  owned  him  together  during  the  summer  of  1783. 
My  father  had  eleven  cows  served  by  him,  and  Colling  had  seven- 
teen, in  the  season.  In  November  following,  Charles  Collins^  said  to 
my  father,  that  as  they  were  done  with  the  bull  for  the  season,  he 
■would  give  them  eight  guineas  for  him;  my  father  replied  he  was 
willing,  if  Robert  was,  and  so  they  sold  the  bull.  It  was  a  condi- 
tion of  the  sale  of  my  father's  part,  that  he  should  have  all  his  cows 
served  by  the  bull,  as  long  as  Charles  Colling  owned  him.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1784,  my  father  wanted  a  cow  served  by  the  bull,  and  sent 
her  to  Ketton.  Mr.  C.  Colling  sent  the  man,  who  took  the  cow,  back 
to  my  father,  to  say  that  the  bull  should  serve  the  cow,  but  he  would 
charge  five  guineas  for  it.  My  father  sent  the  man  to  Ketton  for 
the  cow,  and  brought  her  away  unserved  ;  and  he  had  no  cows 
served  by  the  bull  afterwards.  Charles  Colling  kept  the  bull  two 
years,  and  then  sold  him  to  Mr.  Hubback,  of  Northumberland.  The 
bull  was  called  Hubback's  bull  for  many  years  after  Colling  sold  him. 
I  have  heard  these  facts  many  times  from  my  father  and  R.  Colling. 

Mr.  Alexander  Hall,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Thomas  Bates,  the  cele- 
brated breeder,  under  date  of  Feb.  14,  1820,  says,  "I  was  born  in 
the  year  1754,  and  resided  the  most  of  my  life  at  Haughton.  Mr. 
Thomas  Hall,  with  whom  I  'ived  until  his  death,  resided  there,  and 
was  a  breeder  of  short-horns  for  thirty  years,  before  1778.  I  knew 
Mr.  Stephenson,  of  Ketton,  Mr.  Colling,  of  Skerningham,  father  of 
Robert  and  Charles,  Mr.  Waistell,  of  Great  Burdon,  Mr.  Robson,  of 
Dinsdale,  Mr.  Bamlet,  of  Norton,  Mr.  Fawcett,  of  Haughton  Hill, 
Mr.  Hunter,  Mr.  Snowdon,  and  Mr.  Banks  of  Hurworth,  and  I  was 
well  acquainted  with  their  cattle.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Hall,  I  was  a  breeder  of  short-horns,  and  sold  a  cow  to  Charles  Col- 
Kng  and  two  to  Robert,  I  used  Snowdon's  bull  and  Fawcett's  bull, 
(afterwards  called  Hubback.)  Mr.  Hunter  got  his  cattle  of  Mr. 
Stephenson,  of  Ketton,  and  Mr.  Banks  got  his  of  Mr.  Waistell,  of 
Great  Burdon.  Mr.  Snowdon  went  to  live  at  Hurworth  about  the 
year  1773.  He  bred  his  bull,  the  sire  of  Hubback,  after  he  went  to 
Hurworth,  and  he  was  got  by  Mr.  Robson's  bull." 

"  In  that  day  I  never  heard  that  any  of  these  gentlemen  had  Dutch 
or  Kyloe  blood  in  their  cattle,  and  they  were  all  noted  for  the  good- 
ness of  their  short-horns.'*       * 


SHORT-HORNS. 


Again,  under  date  of  March  20th,  1820,  Alexander  Hall,  in  a  cer- 
tificate given  to  Mr.  Bates,  says,  "  John  Hunter,  of  Hurworth,  was  a 
mason.  He  bred  Hubback.  Hubback's  dam  was  got  by  a  bull 
owned  by  Mr.  Banks,  of  Hurworth.  Banks's  bull  had  a  great  belly, 
but  was  out  of  a  handsome  cow  owned  by  Mr.  Banks.  John  Hunter 
bought  the  grandam  of  Hubback  of  Mr.  Stephenson,  of  Ketton.  Mr. 
Snowdon's  cow  that  produced  *  Snowdon's  bull,'  was  a  very  hand- 
some one,  and  remarkable  for  her  wide  hips,  and  fine  quick  eyes.'* 

Mr.  Hutchinson,  the  banker  and  breeder,  says  of  Hubback,  "  It 
behooves  every  breeder  to  prove  his  own  stock  related  to  this  wonder- 
ful animal  (if  he  can) ;  which  I  conceive  by  no  means  difficult  to  do, 
as  no  bull  (as  I  will  show)  has  been  more  easy  of  access.  He  served 
three  years  at  Mr.  Fawcett's,  near  Haughton,  at  one  shilling  a  cow, 
before  the  late  Robert  Colling  and  Mr.  Waistell  purchased  him.  Mr. 
Waistell,  during  the  nine  or  ten  months  he  remained  a  partnership 
bull,  had  his  twelve  breeding  short-horned  cows  served  by  him,  and 
he  was  open  and  free  to  the  whole  neighborhood  durino^  that  period. 
Mr.  Charles  Colling  became  possessed  of  him  in  October,  1783;  he 
was  then  rising  five  years  eld ;  his  price  not  more  than  £8  8s. 

"  But  I  am  by  no  means  reconciled  to  the  idea  that  Mr.  Colling 
himself  ever  thought  so  highly  of  this  L  ull,  as  it  is  now  confidently 
held  out,  (for  he  kept  him  only  two  years)  ;  otherwise  would  he  have 
parted  with  him  at  seven  years  old,  a  nameles'i  hull?  for  it  is  well 
known  tliat  he  was  not  called  Huhhack  till  many  years  after  he  had 
been  sold  to  a  gentleman  of  that  name,  (Hubback,)  at  North  Seaton 
in  Northumberland. 

"  A  dissension  has  arisen  amongst  the  Ketton  and  Bannpton  breed- 
ers ;  and  all  those  who  have  cattle  descended  from  the  Grandson  of 
Lord  Bolingbroke — or  what  is  now  called  the  alloy-hlood — want  to 
prove  that  there  was  Scotch  blood  in  Hubback ;  and,  as  this  can- 
not he  done  on  the  dam's  side,  they  go  back  to  Sir  James  Penny- 
man,  though  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  tittle  of  evidence  to  prove  that 
Hubback  was  descended  from  his  stock ;  the  only  reason  they  have 
for  supposing  so  is,  that  Mr.  Snowdon  was  a  tenant  of  Sir  James.  I 
believe  I  had  the  last  conversation  on  this  subject  with  poor  George 
Snowdon  myself,  about  three  months  before  his  death,  and  he  cer- 
tainly said  that  was  the  case,  that  his  bull  was  descended  from  Sir 
James's  stock,  but  in  what  degree,  or  h'lw  related,  he  kneio  no  more 
than  the  UMin-in-the-moon.  Mr.  George  Snowdon  came  to  Hurworth 
in  1774:  so  much  for  the  credibility  of  George  Snowdon  having 
brought  this  bull  with  him  out  of  Cleveland,  and  of  his  having  de- 
scended from  the  stock  of  the  late  Sir  James  Pennyman." 

Mr.  Snowdon  was  a  tenant  under  Sir  J.  Pennyman,  near  Ormsby 
in  Cleveland,  and  gave  up  his  farm  there,  and  came  to  the  parish  of 
Hurworth  in  1774,  and  was  a  tenant  under  Mrs.  Bland,  widow  of 
James  Bland,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1770. 


126  CATTLE. 


Sir  James  Pennyman  came  to  the  title  and  estate  of  his  family  in 
the  year  1770,  by'succeeding  his  uncle,  Sir  Wartron.  He  found  a 
herd  of  short-horns  on  his  estate  when  he  came  to  possession,  and 
they  had  been  there  very  many  years,  and  came  originally  from  the 
Aislabies.  Their  excellence  in  the  lifetime  of  his  uncle  Sir  WiUiam, 
fourth  baronet,  was  extraordinary.  A  memorandum  book  in  posses- 
sion of  the  family  in  1848,  shows  that,  in  1767,  a  cow  six  years  old, 
eating  nothing  hut  grass,  and  giving  milk,  was  killed,  and  her  dead 
weio-ht  was  100  stones  and  upwards — more  than  1400  lbs. ;  and  an- 
other of  the  same  age,  and  treated  in  a  hke  manner,  was  estimated 
to  weigh  10  stones  (140  lbs.)  more,  1540  lbs.  dead  weight. 

Sir  James  Pennyman  commenced  breeding  in  1770,  and  in  1773 
got  his  first  cattle  of  Sir  Wm.  St.  Quintin.  Now  George  Snowdon 
left  Cleveland  in  the  spring  of  1774,  and  took  with  him  six  cows. 
As  these  were  cows  in  1774,  and  of  course  calved  before  1773,  they 
could  not  be  descended  from  the  St.  Quintin  blood  in  possession  of 
Sir  James  Pennyman.  Robson  Hved  at  Dinsdale,  two  miles  from 
Hurworth.  The  dam  of  Snowdon's  bull  (the  sire  of  Hubback)  was 
bred  to  Robson's  bull  the  very  year  Snowdon  came  to  Hurworth. 
Snowdon's  bull  was  calved  in  1775,  and  in  1776  got  Hubback,  who 
was  calved  in  1777. 

Thus  it  is  evident  that  if  Snowdon's  cows  had  the  Pennyman  blood, 
it  was  of  a  period  prior  to  the  infusion  of  the  St.  Quintin  blood.  But 
**  in  what  degree,  or  how  related''  to  Sir  James  Pennyman's  blood, 
Snowdon  "  knew  no  more  than  the  man-in-the-moon." 

Hubback,  it  is  well  known,  was  sold  by  Mr.  Colling  to  Mr.  Hub- 
back,  of  Northumberland,  in  1785.  Mr.  Hubback  used  him  up  tc 
1791,  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  and  the  bull  was  vigorous  to 
the  last.  Mr.  Bates  saw  him  and  calves  got  by  him  in  1791, — 
the  calves  got  in  1790. 

Hubback  was  therefore  a  pure  short-horn,  and  did  not  become  im- 
potent. 

6.  The  Galloway  cross  was  made  by  chance ;  and  the  alloy  stock 
had  no  value,  except  as  conferred  by  the  short-horn  blood  in  them, 
and  in  spite  of  the  Galloway  strain. 

In  the  first  volume  of  Coates'  Herd  Book,  page  102,  is  the  follow- 
inir: — "  O'Callaghan's  Son  of  Bohngbroke,  red  and  white,  bred  by 
Colonel  O'Callaghan,  of  Heighington,  got  by  Bolingbroke,  dam  a  red 
polled  Galloway  Scotch  cow.  This  cow  and  another  of  the  same 
breed,  were  purchased  of  Mr.  David  Smurthwaite,  near  Northaller- 
ton, by  Mr.  George  Coates,  who  sold  them  to  Col.  O'Callaghan. 
O'Callaghan's  Son  of  Bolingbroke,  when  a  few  days  old,  became  the 
property  of  Mr.  C.  Colling,  and  was  the  sire  of  Grandson  of  Boling- 
broke." 

Col.  O'Callaghan  lived  near  Ketton,  and  Avhen  he  got  these  two 
Galloways  in  1791^  he  arranged  with  Mr.  Colling  to  bull  them,  and 


SHORT-HORNS.  i» 


by  agreement,  Mr.  Colling  was  to  have  the  bull  calves,  and  the  Col- 
onel to  retain  the  heifers.  One  dropped  a  heifer,  and  the  other  a 
bull  calf,  in  1V92  ;  the  latter,  by  the  bargain,  was  Mr.  Colling's. 
He  was  kept  a  bull  until  about  a  year  old.  Johanna,  [fi  very  mode- 
rate cow,)  got  by  the  I,ame  bull,  (a  very  moderate  one,)  not  having 
bred  for  two  years,  was,  in  1793,  turned  to  run  with  this  young  bull ; 
he  got  her  in  calf,  and  was  then  castrated  and  fed  as  a  steer,  and 
was  never  used  to  any  other  cow.  In  1794  Johanna  dropped  a  bull 
calf,  the  Grandson  of  Bolingbroke,  one  fourth  Galloway.  If  this 
cross  had  been  made  to  improve  the  short-horns,  wotild  Mr.  Collino- 
have  used  his  poorest  cow,  old  Johanna,  to  do  it  with  ?  Old  Phoe- 
nix produced  Favorite  in  Oct.  1793,  and  had  no  calf  in  1794,  nor 
1795,  and,  during  all  that  time,  was  bulled  by  Bolingbroke  and  other 
bulls  of  the  pure  blood,  until,  as  a  last  hope,  she  was  turned  into  the 
Btraw-yard  in  the  winter  of  1795-96,  to  run  with  this  Grandson  of 
Bolingbroke,  and  he  got  her  in  calf;  and  she  in  the  autumn  of  1796 
dropped  the  cow.  Lady.  Mr.  Colling  never  used  this  Grandson  of 
Bolingbroke  to  any  other  cow.  Lady's  first  calf  was  Washington. 
Mr.  CoUing  used  him  to  only  three  or  four  cows  one  season,  and 
these  produced  nothing  of  any  particular  value.  He  was  used  by 
Mr.  Colling  no  more ;  and  he  never  used  any  other  bull  out  of  her 
or  her  daughters.  The  alloy  in  his  hands  was  confined  to  Lady,  her 
daughters,  and  the  produce  of  her  daughters.  He  never  suffered 
that  blood  to  run  into  his  Daisy  tribe,  his  Duchess  tribe,  nor  the  rest 
of  his  Lady  Maynard  tribe. 

This  alloy  family  was  always  extraordinarily  deficient  in  milk,  and 
at  the  sale  in  1810,  giving  little  milk,  were  most  remarkable  for  then- 
high  condition,  and  this  sold  them  well. 

The  family  of  Lady,  her  daughters,  and  the  produce  of  her 
daughters,  numbered  thirteen  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  Colling,  in  1810, 
and  were  far  more  numerous  than  any  other.  No  other  family  num- 
bered over  Jive.  The  alloy  family  sold  for  2082  guineas,  and  aver- 
aged 160  guineas;  the  Phoenix  family,  including  Comet,  averaged 
491  g's.,  and  without  Comet  averaged  237  g's.  ;  and  the  Daisy  fam- 
ily averaged  175  g's.  The  pure  blood  brought  higher  prices  than 
the  alloy ;  and  in  the  leading  families  of  the  pure  blood  made  higher 
averages.     No  other  family  could  make  so  great  an  aggregate. 

At  this  day  in  England  they  have  ceased  to  claim  any  merit  for 
the  Galloway  cross,  and  freely  admit  that  it  did  no  good,  and  that 
when  animals  having  it  are  good,  they  are  so  in  spite  of  that  cross, 
not  in  consequence  of  it;  hxxt from  their  short-horn  blood. 

The  most  extraordinary  sales  of  short-horns  in  modern  davs,  were 
those  of  the  herds  of  Earl  Spencer  and  Mr.  Bates ;  and  these 
breeders  wholly  rejected  and  avoided  the  Galloway  alhni,  as  did  Mr. 
Mason,  (the  contemporary  and  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Colling)  from 
whom  Lord  Spencer  derived  his  cattle. 


128 


CATTLE. 


Mr.  Youatt,  contradicting  Berry  in  his  claim  of  the  value  of  this 
alloy  blood,  says,  (page  99,)  "  The  dam  of  Lady  was  Phoenix,  also 
the  dam  of  the  bull  Favorite,  and  as  the  Grandson  of  liolingbroke  is 
not  known  to  have  been  the  sire  of  any  other  remarkably  good  ani- 
mal, it  is  most  piobable  that  the  unquestionable  merit  of  Lady  and 
her  descendants  is  to  be  attributed  more  to  her  dam  than  to  her 
sire." 

This  account  of  the  Gallow^ay  cioss  was  derived  from  Mr.  Bates, 
of  Kirkleavington,  who  had  it  from  Mr.  Colling,  and  knew  it  of  his 
own  knowledge. 

Mr.  Berry  barely  names  Mr.  Robert  Colling,  and  gives  only  a 
summary  of  his  sale.  R.  Colling  was  quite  as  distinguished  as  his 
brother  Charles,  and  bred  cattle  at  least  as  good.  When  C.  Col- 
hng  sold  his  cattle  in  1810,  all  was  inflation  and  war  prices.  Robert's 
sale  was  in  1818,  amidst  the  depression  of  the  agricultural  interest, 
consequent  on  a  return  of  peace.  Compared  with  the  other  agri- 
cultural prices  of  the  two  periods,  Robert's  sale  was  higher  in  prices 
than  Charles's.  R.  Colling's  and  Sir  Henry  Vane  Tempest's  sales 
are  given.  In  Mr.  R.  Colling's,  one  cow  brought  370,  within  40 
guineas  of  Mr.  C.  Colling's  highest  priced  cow;  and  one  bull  621 
guineas,  far  higher  than  any  one  in  C).  Colling's  sale  except  Comet. 
All  agricultural  products  were  in  1810  double  the  prices  of  1818. 

Catalogue  of  Mr.  Robert  Colling's  Sale  of  Short-Horned  Cattlft, 
September,  181 8,  at  Barmpton. 
COWS. 
Age.        Names. 


17. 
11, 

11, 
4, 
5, 

6, 

6, 


6, 


Red  Rose, 

Moss  Bose, 

Juno, 

Diana, 

Sally, 

Charlotte, 

Wildair, 

Lilly, 
6,    Golden  Pippin, 
6,     Blackwell, 

Tulip, 

Trinket, 

INIary  Anne, 

Louisa, 

Empress, 

Caroline, 

Clarissa, 
f.   J  Young  Mos3 
^'  \     Rose, 
5,     Venus, 

5,  Rosette, 

o  <  Young  Chai 
°'  i     lotte. 
3,    Vesper, 

6,  Nonpareil, 
3,    Daisy, 

8,    Kate, 


^A 


Sire. 

Dam. 

Price. 
Gs. 

iiuycr. 

Favorite, 

By  Ben, 

Sick  and  n^t  oflFcre^ 

do.. 

Red  Rose, 

, 

Not  offered. 

do., 

Wildair  by  Favorite, 

78, 

Simpson  A  Smith 

do., 

Widair, 

73, 

Lord  Althorp. 

do.. 

By  Favorite, 

ai. 

Simpson  &  Smith. 

Comet, 

Cathalene, 

50, 

]Mr.  Brown. 

George, 

Wildair  by  Favorite, 

176, 

C.  Duncomb. 

Korth  Star, 

By  Favorite, 

m. 

Mr.  Skip  worth. 

North  Star. 

do., 

141, 

Mr.  Cattle. 

Wellington, 

Of  iMr.  Hill's  Stock 

31, 

T.  Hopper. 

George, 

By  Favorite, 

70, 

C.  Tibbets 

Barmpion, 

do., 

143, 

Simpson  &  Smith 

George, 

do.. 

^' 

do. 

Wellington, 

do.. 

37, 

do. 

Barmpton, 

Lady  Grace, 

210, 

C.  Champion. 

Minjr, 

Wildair  by  Favorite, 

160, 

H.  Witham. 

Wellington, 

By  Favorite, 

151, 

Mr.  Robson. 

do., 

Moss  Rose, 

190, 

C.  Duncomb. 

do.. 

By  George, 

195, 

Simpson  &  Smith 

do., 

Red  Rose, 

300, 

Lord  Althorp. 

do., 

Charlotte, 

72, 

]\Ir.  Thomas. 

do.. 

By  Favorite, 

111, 

Mr.  White. 

do 

Juno, 

370, 

Lord  Althorp. 

do 

By  Favorite, 

32. 

Simpson  &  Smith 

dc  , 

By  Phenomenon, 

Ga. 

H.  Witham. 

SHORT-HORJJS. 


129 


HEIFERS. 

Age.        Namci. 

Sire. 

Dam. 

Prices. 
Gs. 

Buyer. 

2,     Amelia, 

Lancaster, 

By  North  Star, 

76, 

Mr.  Maynard. 

2,     Aurora, 

do., 

do., 

78, 

Mr.  Smith. 

2,     Princess, 

do., 

Golden  Pippm, 

156, 

Mr.  Skipworth. 

2,     Clara, 

do. 

Venus, 

190, 

Mr.  Thomas. 

2,     Fannv, 

Wellingtoa 

Sally, 

160, 

C.  Tibbets. 

2,    White  Rose 

do.. 

By  Wellington, 

51, 

Mr.  Smith. 

2,    Ruby, 

do. 

RedBose, 

331, 

Mr.  Robson. 

2,     Lavina, 

Lancaster, 

Young  Moss  Rose, 

105, 

do. 

2,     Hebe, 

Jupiter, 
"Wellington, 

Lily, 

90, 

Mr  Thompson. 

2,    Jesse, 

OfMr.  Hill's  Stock. 

43, 

Mr.  Hutchinson 

2,    Jewell, 

do., 

do.. 

50, 

Mr.  Brown. 

HEIFER  CALVES. 

Names. 

Sire. 

Dam. 

Price, 
Gs 

Buyer. 

Violet, 

North-Star, 

By  Midas, 

48, 

Mr.  Skipworth 

Sweet-brier, 

do.. 

Nonpareil, 

145, 

Mr.  Maynard. 

Snowdrop, 

Wellington, 

Tulip, 

By  Favorite, 

71, 

Mr.  Thompson. 

Cowslip, 

do., 

54, 

Mr.  Layton. 

Lady  Anne, 

do.. 

By  George, 

100, 

Mr.  Barnes. 

Flora, 

Lancaster. 

Sally, 

47, 

Mr.  Thompson, 

Cleopatra, 

do,. 

By  George, 

133, 

Mr.  Barnes. 

do.. 

Clarissa, 

52, 

Mr.  Kobson. 

do.. 

Trinket. 

56, 

Mr.  Wiley. 

Wellington, 

By  Wellington, 

23, 

Simpson  &  Smith. 

Lancaster, 

Mary  Anne, 

42, 

Mr.  Cattle. 

do.. 

Louisa, 

38, 

Mr   Smith. 

Barmpton, 

Empress, 

100, 

C.  Champion. 

do, 
do.. 

Rosette, 
Charlotte, 

123, 
55, 

Mr.  Kobson. 
Maj.  Rudd. 

do.. 

Trinket, 

110, 

Simpson  &  Smith. 

do.. 

By  Cleveland, 

80. 

Mr.  White. 

BULLS. 

Age.        Names. 

Sire. 

Dam. 

Price. 
Gs. 

Buyer. 

12,     Marske, 

Favorite, 

Brighteyes, 

50, 

Mr.  Maynard. 

11,     North  Star, 

do. 

By  Punch, 

73, 

T.  Lax. 

10,     Midas, 

Phenomenon, 

Red  Kose, 

270, 

Mr.  Wiley. 

8,     Barmpton. 

George, 

Moss  Rose, 

Not  offered. 

6,     Major, 

Wellington, 

By  Phenomenon 

185, 

Mr.  Brooks. 

4,     Lancastet 

do.. 

Moss  Rose, 

621, 

Simpson  &  Smith 

3,     Baronet, 

do.. 

Bod  Rose, 

Not  oflfered. 

3,     Regent, 

do., 

By  Windsor, 

145, 

Lord  Althorp. 

BULL  CALVES. 


Names 

Diamond, 

Albion, 

Harold, 

PUot, 


Sire. 

Dam. 

Price. 
Gs. 

Bayer. 

Lancaster, 

do., 
Wellington, 

Venus, 

Bv  Wellington, 

W^ildair, 

102, 
140 
20i; 

Mr.  Donaldson 
Mr.  Russel. 
Mr.  Whitaker 

Major   or 
Wellington, 

Red  Rose 

270, 

Mr.  Booth. 

Total,  .£7853  for  61  animals. 


130 


CATTLE. 


Catalogie  of  Sb  Henry  Vane  Tempest's  Short-Horned  Cattle,  sold  by  his  Ezecntorf 
after  his  death,  October,  I8\3,  at  Wynyard. 

COWS. 


Age. 


13,  Princess, 

10,  Anna  Boleyne, 

9,  Llvira, 

6,  Trinket, 

4,  Paioquet, 

4,  Nell  (jrwynn, 

4,  Alexina, 

4,  Tulip, 

3,  Calista, 

3,  Trifle, 

3,  Peg  VVoffington^ 

3,  Angelina, 

6,  Red  Rose, 


Sire. 


Favorite, 


Dam. 

^  Brighteyes 
l     vorite. 


by  Fa- 


do., 

Princess, 

Phenomenon, 

do.. 

do., 

Tragedy, 

Wynyard, 

Phenomenon, 

Princess, 

do.. 

Anna  Boleyne* 

do., 

Tragedy, 

Comet, 

Cora, 

Phenomenon, 

Tragedy, 

,Wynyard, 

Princess, 

Phenomenon, 

Anna  Boleyne, 

do.. 

Price. 
Gs. 

36,  j 

76. 
96, 
45, 
52, 
68, 
41, 
87, 
112, 
58, 
27, 
63, 
36, 


Buyer. 

Countess  of  Antrim. 
Sir  Henry's  widow. 
Mr.  Mills. 
Mr.  Binns. 
Mr.  Parrington. 
K.  Wilkinson. 
John  Wood. 
Mr.  Vansittart. 
Mr.  MUls. 

do. 
Mr.  Vansittart. 

do. 
Countess  of  Antriia 
Mr,  Dobson 


HEIFERS. 


Age. 


Names. 


2,  Young  Tragedy, 

2,  Matchless, 

1,  Artless, 

1,  Helen, 


Sire. 

Wynyard, 
Phenomenon, 
Wynyard, 
do.. 


Dam. 

Tragedy, 
Matron, 
Anna  Boleyne, 
Elvira, 


Price.  Bayer. 

Gs. 

70,  Mr.  Bower. 

40,     Mr.  Hutchinson. 
56,     Sir  B.  Graham. 

71,  Mr.  Cook. 


Names. 

Patch,* 

Careless, 

Peeress,* 


HEIFER  CALVES. 
Dam. 


Wynyard, 
do., 
do.. 


Calista, 


Grades,  half  blood. 


Prioe. 
Gs. 

11, 
16. 


Bnyer. 

R.  Wilkinson. 
Mr.  Bower. 
Mr.  Smith. 


Names. 

Noble, 
Albion, 
Pilot, 


Sire. 

Wynyard, 
do., 
do.. 


BULL  CALVES. 
Dam. 

Nell  Gwynn, 
Anna  Boleyne, 
Princess, 


Price. 
Gs. 


Bayer. 


51,     Mr.  Jackson. 

62,     Kev.G.  Barrington. 

^,     Countess  of  Antrim. 


As;e. 


Name, 


Sire 


BULLS. 
Dam. 


7,     Wynyard,  Phenomenon,        Princess, 

1,     Wellington,      Wynyard,  Alexina, 


Total,  JC1618  for  25  animals. 


Price.  Boyor. 

G«. 

210,  Mr.  MUla. 

71,  Countess  of  Antria. 


SHORT-HORNS.  131 


Of  th<j  breeders  contemporaneous  with  the  Collings,  the  most 
prominent  were  Sir  Henry  Vane  Tempest,  Col.  John  Trotter,  and 
Mr.  Mason.  These  gentlemen  all  derived  their  animals  to  commence 
with  from  the  Ketton  and  Barrppton  herds;  Sir  Henry's  and  Col 
Trotter's  being  entirely  from  Robert  Colling.  It  was  the  singular 
fortune  of  the  Colonel,  to  sell  three  cows  to  Col.  Melish  for  2100 
guineas,  (£2210,)  a  high  evidence  of  the  superiority  of  his  breeding, 
and  the  excellence  of  his  cattle.  Col.  Melish  resold  one  of  the  three 
to  Major  Bower  for  800  guineas.  This  was  just  twice  the  price  of 
the  highest  of  the  cows  in  Charles  Colling's  sale.  Col.  Trotter  bred 
that  very  superior  bull  Baron,  (58,)  sold  to  Mr.  Dimcomb  at  a  very 
high  price.     He  was  used  with  great  success  by  Mr.  Duncomb. 

Mr.  Mason  was  coeval  nearly  with  the  Collings,  and  continued 
breeding  until  1829,  when  he  sold,  and  his  herd  realized  great  prices. 
The  leading  purchaser  was  Lord  Althorp,  (afterwards  Earl  Spencer,) 
who  reared  a  large  and  valuable  stock  from  this  source,  which  num- 
bered about  150  when  he  died;  they  were  by  his  legatee,  Mr.  Hall, 
sold  for  very  great  prices,  one  bull  reaching  400  and  another  370 
guineas,  and  some  cows  going  to  200  guineas. 

Sir  Henry  Vane  Tempest  of  Wynyard,  was  clearly  the  leading 
breeder  other  than  the  Collings,  during  the  period  of  the  existence 
of  the  Ketton  and  Barmpton  herds ;  and  so  far  as  permanent  influ- 
ence on  the  present  short-horns  is  concerned,  the  best  breeder.  He 
commenced  by  the  purchase  from  Robert  Colling  of  a  cow  of  his 
very  extraordinary  Princess  tribe.  From  her  are  descended  the 
famous  and  unsurpassed  tribe  of  the  Princess  family,  so  distinguished 
in  this  day  ;  and  which  is  now,  in  its  pure  state,  in  England,  solely  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Stephenson,  of  Wolviston,  county  of 
Durham.*  Sir  Henry  died  in  1813,  and  his  widow,  the  Countess  of 
Antrim,  continued  the  Wynyard  herd  till  1818,  when  she  sold  ofi 
her  cattle.  At  her  sale  Mr.  Stephenson  purchased  the  cow  Ange- 
lina, of  the  Princess  family,  and  from  her  he  has  reared  his  present 
herd  of  that  tribe,  of  which  his  cattle  wholly  consists. 

Of  the  breeders  of  the  present  day,  Mr.  Stephenson  and  Mr.  Bates 
of  Kirkleavington,  are  more  distinguished  for  the  high  style  and 
quahty  of  their  cattle  than  any  others  in  England.  As  a  bull  breeder, 
Mr.  Stephenson  has  no  equal.  Mr.  Bates  commenced  his  breeding 
with  the  Duchess  tribe,  the  last  of  which,  owned  by  C.  Colling,  he 
bought,  and  until  his  death  in  1849,  it  remained  wholly  in  his  pos- 
session. It  has  now  been  distributed  at  very  large  prices.  Mr. 
Bates  resorted  to  Mr.  Stephenson's  blood,  and  through  Mr.  Stephen- 
son's bull  Belvedere,  [1706,]  greatly  improved  his  short-horns,  His 
prominent  prize  animals  were  got  by  Belvedere. 

*  The  only  other  persons  possessing  females  of  this  blood  in  its  pure  state,  are  Col. 
Sherwood,  and  Ambrose  Stevens,  of  New  York.  They  derived  theirs  from  Mr.  Ste- 
phenson, and  in  1849  and  '50  imported  eight  heifers  and  oQws  from  him. 


182 


CATJ'LC. 


HEAD  OF  MR.  STEPHENSON  S   CELEBllATED   BULL  "WAIERLOO. 

The  above  cut  of  the  head  of  Mr.  Stephenson's  celebrated  bull 
Waterloo  presents  to  the  reader  the  very  perfection  of  a  fine  short- 
horn head.  The  horn  is  small,  well-placed  and  regular ;  the  fore- 
head is  broad  and  indented  ;  the  eye  large,  prominent,  and  bright, 
yet  placid  ;  the  nose  small  and  tapering ;  tiie  muzzle  fine  and  clean  ; 
the  nostril  -wide  and  large  ;  the  lips  tliin  and  delicate  ;  the  cheek 
thin,  clear,  and  fine ;  the  neck  small  at  the  union  with  the  head  ; 
the  throat  clean  and  well  cut  up  ;  Ihe  whole  head  small  and  beauti- 
ful, 5'et  grand,  and  showing  great  constitution  and  stamina.  Such  a 
head  will  always  have  copnnected  with  it  quality  of  the  very  highest 
kind — good  hair — good  handling — good  flesh — feeding  capacity. 

So  far,  the  American  Editor :  and  Mr.  Youatt  now  resumes. 


THE   SKORT-HORNS.  18S 


The  Yorkshire  cow,  which  now  alcnost  exclusfvely  occupies  the 
London  dairies,  is  an  unanswerable  proof  of  the  possibility  of  uniting 
the  two  quahties,  fatting  and  milking,  perfecl.ly,  but  not  at  the  same 
tim- : — they  succeed  to  each  other,  and  at  the  periods  when  it  suits 
the  convenience  of  the  dairyman  that  they  should.  Years  ago  the 
Yorkshire  cow  was,  compared  with  other  breeds,  as  great  a  favorite 
in  the  London  market  as  at  present.  She  3'ielded  more  milk,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  quantity  of  food  consumed,  than  could  be  obtained 
from  any  other  breed  ;  but  when  the  dairyman  had  had  her  four  or 
five  years,  slie  began  to  fall  off,  and  he  dried  her  and  sold  her.  It 
look  a  long  time  to  get  much  flesh  upon  her  ;  and  when  he  cal- 
culated the  expense  of  bringing  her  into  condition,  he  found  that  his 
cheapest  way  was  to  sell  her  for  what  she  would  fetch,  and  that  sel- 
dom exceeded  5/. 

By  degrees,  however,  the  moi-e  intelligent  of  the  breeders  began 
to  find  that,  by  cautiously  adopting  the  principle  of  selection — by 
finding  out  a  short-horn  bull  whose  progeny  were  generally  milkers, 
and  crossing  some  of  the  old  Yorkshites  with  him, — but  still  regard- 
ing the  milking  properties  of  the  dam,  and  the  usual  tendency  to 
possess  these  qualities  in  the  offspring  of  the  sire, — they  could  at 
length  obtain  a  breed  that  had  much  of  the  grazing  properties  of  the 
short-horn  in  the  new  breed,  and  retained,  almost  undiminished  the 
excellences  of  the  old  breed  for  the  pail.  Thence  it  has  happened 
that  many  of  the  cows  in  the  London  dairies  are  as  fine  specimens  of 
the  improved  short-horns  as  can  possibly  be  produced.  They  do 
not,  perhaps,  yield  quite  so  much  milk  as  the  old  ones,  but  what  they 
do  yield  is  of  better  quality  ;  and  whether  the  dairyman  keeps  them 
a  twelvemonth  or  lono-er — and  this  is  rrettinor  more  and  more  the 
habit  of  these  people — or  whether  he  milks  them  for  three  or  four 
years — as  soon  as  he  dries  them,  they  fatten  as  rapidly  as  the  most 
celebrated  of  the  high  bred  short-horns. 

"We  give  a  fair  specimen  of  one  of  these  cows  :  the  character  of  the 
Holderness  and  the  short-horn  beautifully  mingling.  A  milch  cow 
good  for  the  pail  as  long  as  wanted,  and  then  quickly  got  into  mar- 
ketable condition,  should  have  a  long  and  rather  small  head  ;  a  large- 
headed  cow  will  seldom  fatten  or  yield  much  milk.  The  eye  should 
be  l)right,  yet  peculiarly  placid  and  quiet  in  expression  ;  the  chaps 
thin,  and  the  horns  small.  The  neck  should  not  be  so  thin  as  com- 
mon opinion  has  given  to  the  milch  cow.  It  may  be  thin  towards 
the  head  ;  but  it  must  soon  begin  to  thicken,  and  especially  when  it 
approaches  the  shoulder.  The  dewlap  should  be  small ;  the  breast, 
if  not  so  wide  as  in  some  that  have  an  unusual  disposition  to  fatten, 
yet  very  far  from  being  narrow,  and  it  should  project  before  the  legs  ; 

the  chine,  to  a  certain   deofree  fleshv,  and  even  inclininir  to  fullness  ; 

"  ••■11 

the  girth  behind  the  shoulder  should   be  deeper  than  it  is  usually 

found  in  the  short-horn  ;  the  ribs  should  spread  out  wide,  so  as  to 


134 


CATTLE. 


give  as  round  a  form  as  possible  to  the  carcass,  and  each  sliould 
project  lariLer  than  the  preceding  one  to  the  very  loins,  giving,  if 
after  all  the  milch  cow  DUiist  be  a  little  wider  below  than  above,  yet 
as  much  breadth  as  can  possibly  be  afforded  to  the  more  valuable 
parts.  8he  should  be  well  formed  across  the  hips  and  on  the  rump, 
and  with  greater  length  there  than  the  milker  generally  possesses,  or 
if  a  little  too  short,  not  heavy.  If  she  stands  a  little  long  on  the  legs, 
it  must  not  l>e  too  long.  The  thighs  somewhat  thin,  with  a  slight 
tendency  to  crookedness  in  the  hock,  or  being  sickle-hammed  behind  : 
the  tail  thick  at  the  upper  part,  but  tapering  below  ;  and  she  sliould 
have  a  mellow  hide,  and  little  coarse  hair.  Common  opinion  has 
given  to  her  large  milk- veins ;  and  although  the  milk- vein  has 
notliing  to  do  with  the  udder,  but  conveys  the  blood  from  the  fore 
part  of  the  chest  and  sides  to  the  inguinal  vein,  yet  a  large  milk- 
vein  ceriainly  indicates  a  strongly  developed  vascular  system — one 
favorable  to  secretion  generally,  and  to  that  of  the  milk  among  the 
rest. 


THE    YORKSHIRE    COW. 


The  last  essential  in  a  milch  cow  is  the  udder,  rather  large  in  pjo- 
portion  to  the  size  of  the  animal,  but  not  too  large.  It  must  be 
suffirieutly  capacious  to  contain  the  proper  quantity  of  milk,  but  not 


THE    SHORT-HORNS.  135 


too  bulky,  lest  it  should  thicken  and  become  loaded  with  fat.  The 
skin  of  the  udder  should  be  thin,  and  free  from  lumps  in  every  part 
of  it.  Tlie  teats  should  be  of  moderate  size  ;  at  equal  distances  from 
each  other  every  way  ;  and  of  equal  size  from  the  udiler  to  nearly 
the  end,  where  they  should  run  to  a  kind  of  point.  When  they  are 
too  large  near  the  udder,  they  permit  the  milk  to  flow  down  too 
freely  from  the  bag,  and  lodge  in  them ;  and  wiien  they  are  too 
broad  at  the  extremity,  the  orifice  is  often  so  large  that  the  cow  can- 
not retain  her  milk  after  the  bag  begins  to  be  full  and  heavy.  The 
udder  should  be  of  nearly  equal  size  before  and  behind,  or,  if  there 
be  any  difference,  it  should  be  broader  and  fuller  before  than  behind. 

The  quantity  of  milk  given  by  some  of  these  cows  is  very  great. 
It  is  by  no  means  uncommon  for  them,  in  the  beginning  of  the  sum- 
mer, to  yield  30  quarts  a  day ;  there  are  rare  instances  of  their  hav- 
ing given  36  quarts ;  but  the  average  may  be  estimated  at  22  or  24 
quarts.  Tt  is  said  that  this  milk  does  not  yield  a  proportionate 
quantity  of  butter.  That  their  milk  does  not  contain  the  same  pro- 
portionate quantity  of  butter  as  that  from  the  long- horns,  the  Scotch 
cattle,  or  the  Devons,  is  probably  true  ;  but  we  have  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  the  diflference  has  been  much  exaggerated,  and  is  more 
than  compensated  by  the  additional  quantity  of  milk.  The  prejudice 
against  them  on  this  account  was  very  great,  and  certain  experiments 
were  made,  by  the  result  of  wliich  it  was  made  to  appear  that  the 
milk  of  the  Kyloe  cow  yielded  double  the  quantity  of  butter  that 
could  be  produced  from  that  of  the  short-horn.  Two  ounces  were 
obtained  from  the  milk  of  the  Kyloe,  and  one  from  that  of  the  short- 
horn. 

This  aroused  the  advocates  of  the  short-horns,  and  they  instituted 
their  experiments,  the  result  of  which  was  much  less  to  the  disad- 
vantage of  the  breed.  Mr.  Bailey,  in  his  survey  of  Durham,  gives  an 
account  of  an  experiment  made  by  Mr.  Walton  of  Middleton. 

He  took  from  his  dairy  six  cows  promiscuously,  and  obtained  the 
following  quantity  of  butter  from  a  quart  of  the  milk  of  each  ot 
them  : — 

No.  1,3  oz.  6  dwts.;  No.  2,  1  oz.  6  dwts.;  No.  3,  1  oz.  12  dwts.; 
No.  4,  1  oz.  10  dwts.;  No.  5,  1  oz.  14  dwts.;  No.  6,  1  oz.  6  dwts.; 
total,  10  oz.  8  dwts.;  which,  divided  by  6,  leaves  nearly  1  oz.  14| 
dwts.,  or  about  I  of  the  weight  of  butter  from  the  milk  of  a  short- 
horn that  the  same  quantity  of  milk  from  a  Kyloe  yielded.  Then, 
the  increased  quantity  of  milk  yielded  by  the  short-horn  gave  her 
decidedly  the  preference,  so  far  as  the  simple  produce  was  con 
cerned. 

This  experiment  brought  to  light  another  good  quality  in  the 
short-horn,  which,  if  not  altogether  unsuspected,  was  not  sufficiently 
acted  upon — that  she  improved  as  a  dairy-cow  as  she  got  older.  The 
cow,  a  quart  of  whose  milk  produced  more  than  3  oz.  of  butter,  was 


136  CATTLE. 


six  years  old,  the  other  five  were  only  two  years  old;  the  experi- 
ments proved  tiiat  her  milk  was  richer  at  six  years  old,  than  it  had 
been  at.  two.     'J'his  destMves  investi^-ation. 

Another  circumstance  is  somewhat  connected  with  such  an  in- 
quiry. The  Kyloe  and  the  long-horn  caitle  seem  to  care  little  about 
change  of  situation  and  pasture  ;  but  the  short-horn  is  not  so  easily 
reconciled  to  a  change  ;  and  her  milk  is  ni)t  at  first  either  so  abun- 
dant or  so  good  as  it  afterwards  becomes. 

There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  quantity  of  food  consumed  by 
different  breeds  of  cattle,  and  that  the  short-horns  occupy  the  high- 
est rank  among  the  consumers  of  fo' d  is  evident  enough  ;  but  we 
never  could  be  persuaded  that  the  difference  of  size  in  the  same 
breed  made  any  material  difference  in  the  appetite,  or  the  food  con- 
sumed. When  they  stand  side  by  side  in  the  stall  or  the  cow-house, 
and  experience  has  taught  us  the  proper  average  quantity  of  food, 
the  iittle  one  eats  her  share,  and  the  laiger  one  seldom  eats  more, 
even  when  it  is  put  before  her.  There  are  occasional  diff'erences  in 
the  consumption  of  food  by  different  animals,  but  these  arise  far 
oftener  from  constitution,  or  from  some  unknown  cause,  than  from 
difference  in  size.  Experience  does,  however,  prove,  beyond  the 
possibility  of  doubt,  that  the  larger  cattle,  the  breed  and  other  cir- 
cumstances being  th^  same,  yield  the  greatest  quantity  of  milk. 

Experience  has  also  proved  another  thing— that  the  good  grazing 
points  of  a  cow,  and  even  her  being  in  lair  store  c<  ndition,  do  not 
necessarily  interfere  with  her  milking  qualities.  They  prove  that  she 
has  the  disposition  to  fatten  about  her,  but  which  will  not  be  called 
into  injurious  exercise  until,  in  the  natural  process  of  time,  or  de- 
signedly, she  is  dried.  She  will  yield  nearly  as  much  milk  as  her 
unthrifty  neighbor,  and  milk  of  a  supei-ior  quality,  and  at  four,  five, 
or  six  years  old,  might  be  pitted  against  any  Kyloe,  in  the  quality  of 
her  milk,  while  we  have  the  ph  dge  that  it  will  cost  little  to  prepare 
her  for  the  butcher,  when  done  as  a  milker.  On  this  principle 
many  of  the  London  dairymen  now  act,  when  they  change  their  cows 
so  frequently. 

The  following  observations  were  made  by  Mr.  Calvert,  of  Brampton, 
on  the  quantity  of  butter  yielded  by  one  of  his  short-horns.  The 
milk  was  kept  and  churned  separately  from  that  of  the  other  stock, 
and  the  following  is  the  number  of  pounds  of  butter  obtained  in  each 
week,— 7,  10,  lb,  12,  17,  13,  13,  13,  15,  16,  15,  12,  13,  13,  13,  14, 
14,  13,  12,  12,  13,  11,  12,  10,  10,  8,  10,  9,  10,  7,  7,  7. 

There  were  churned  373  pounds  of  butter  in  the  space  of  32  weeks. 
The  cow  gave  28  quarts  of  milk  per  day,  about  Midsummer,  and 
would  average  nearly  20  quarts  per  day  for  20  weeks.  She  gave 
more  milk  when  pastured  in  the  summer  than  when  soiled  in  the 
house,  in  consequence  of  the  very  hot  weather.  She  was  lame  six 
weeks  from  foul  in  the  feet,  which  lessened  the  quantity  of  milk 


SHORT-HORNS. 


137 


LINCOLNSHIRE. 

There  is  a  large,  coarse  short-horn  prevailing,  particularly  in  Lin- 
colnshire, denominated  in  the  quotations  of  the  Sraithfield  markets 
*'  Lincolns,"  but  they  have  no  further  a65nity  with  the  improved 
short-horns  than  as  the  latter  have  been  referred  to  for  their  improve- 
ment, -which  has  been  accomplished  to  a  considerable  degree. 


LINCOLNSHIRE    OX. 


Breeders,  with  judgment,  called  in  the  aid  of  the  short-horn,  and 
speedily  and  effectually  completed  their  object.  They  took  away  the 
disposition  to  make  lean  beef  only,  although  in  very  great  quantities  ; 
and  if  they  could  not  perfectly  give  to  the  Lincolns  their  own  early 
maturity,  they  materially  quickened  the  process  of  fattening. 

This  cut  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  modern  Lincoln,  with  a  cross  of 
the  Durham,  and  ready  for  the  market.  It  was  sketched  by  Mr. 
Harvey,  as  it  stood  in  Smithfield. 

An  improved  Lincolnshire  beast  is  therefore  now  a  very  valuable 
animal ;  and  if  a  liner  grain  could  be  given  to  the  meat,  his  great 
quantity  of  muscle,  compared  with  that  of  fat,  would  be  no  disadvan- 
tage. 


CHAPTER    VIII 


THE  ALDERNEYS. 


THE    ALDERNEY    BULL. 


The  Normandy  cattle  are  from  the  French  continent,  and  are 
larger  and  have  a  superior  tendency  to  fatten  ;  others  are  from  the 
islands  of  the  French  coast ;  but  all  of  them,  whether  from  the  con- 
tinent or  the  islands,  pass  under  the  common  name  of  AlderneN'^s. 

They  are  found  mainly  in  gentlemen's  parks  and  pleasure-grounds, 
and  they  maintain  their  occupancy  there  partly  on  account  of  the 
richness  of  their  milk,  and  the  great  quantity  of  butter  which  it 
yields,  but  more  from  the  diminutive  size  of  the  animals.     Their  real 


THE    ALDER NLVS. 


139 


ugliness  is  passed  over  on  these  accounts ;  and  it  is  thought  fash- 
ionable that  the  new  from  the  breakfast  or  drawing-room  of  the 
house  should  present  an  Alderney  cow  or  two  grazing  at  a  httle 
distance. 


THE    ALDERNEY    COW. 

They  are  light  red,  yellow,  dun  or  fawn-colored  ;  short,  wild- 
horned,  deer-necked,  thin,  and  small  boned  ;  irregularly,  but  often 
very  awkwardly  shaped. 

Mr.  Parkinson,  who  seems  to  have  a  determined  prejudice  against 
them,  says  that  "  their  size  is  small,  and  they  are  of  as  bad  a  form 
as  can  possibly  be  described ;  the  bellies  of  many  of  them  are  four- 
fifths  of  their  weight ;  the  neck  is  very  thin  and  hollow  ;  the  shoul- 
der stands  up,  and  is  the  highest  part ;  they  are  hollow  and  narrow 
behind  the  shoulders ;  the  chine  is  nearly  without  flesh ;  the  bucks 
are  narrow  and  sharp  at  the  ends ;  the  rump  is  short,  and  they  are 
narrow  and  light  in  the  brisket."  This  is  about  as  bad  a  form  as  can 
possibly  be  described,  and  the  picture  is  very  little  exagg^-ated, 
when  the  animal  is  analyzed  point  by  point ;  yet  all  these  defects 
are  so  put  together,  as  to  make  a  not  unpleasing  whole. 

The  Alderney,  considering  its  voracious  appetite — for  it  devours 
almost  as  much  as  a  short-horn — yields  very  little  milk,     That  milk. 


140 


CATTLE. 


however,  is  of  an  extraordinarily  excellent  quality,  and  gives  more  but- 
ter per  quart  than  can  be  obtained  from  the  milk  of  any  other  cow. 
Some  writers  on  agricultural  subjects  have,  however,  denied  this. 
The  milk  of  the  Alderney  cow  fits  her  for  the  situation  in  which  she 
is  usually  placed,  and  where  the  excellence  of  the  article  is  regarded, 
and  not  the  expense  :  but  it  is  not  rich  enough,  yielding  the  small 
quantity  that  she  does,  to  pay  for  what  she  costs.  On  the  South 
coast  of  England,  there  is  great  facility  in  obtaining  the  Aldeniey 
cattle,  and  they  are  great  favorites  there. 


.i^P^ 


One  excellence  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  Alderneys  pos- 
sess ;  when  they  are  dried,  they  fatten  with  a  rapidity  that  would  be 
scarcely  thought  possible  from  their  gaunt  appearance,  and  their 
want  of  almost  every  grazing^  point,   while  living. 

Some  have  assigned  to  the  Norman  or  Alderney  cattle  a  share  in 
the  improvement  of  the  old  short-horns  ;  but  the  fact  does  not  rest 
on  any  good  authority. 


EAST  INDIAN  CATTLE. 


Several  varieties  of  these  have  been  imported,  and  attempts  made 
to  naturalize  them,  but  with  varied  success,  and  among  them  the 
Vagore  cattle. 


THE   SHORT  HORNS. 


141 


They  are  used  in  India  by  the  higher  orders,  to  draw  their  state 
carriages,  and  are  much  valued  for  their  size,  speed,  and  endurance, 
and  sell  at  very  high  prices. 


ytASt 


THE    NAGORE    BULL. 

They  will  travel,  with  a  rider  on  their  back,  fifteen  or  sixteen 
hours  in  the  day,  at  the  rate  of  six  miles  an  hour.  Their  action 
IS  particularly  fine— nothing  hke  the  English  cattle,  with  the  side- 
way,  circular  action  of  their  hind  legs. — The  Nagore  cattle  bring 
their  hind  legs  under  them  in  as  straight  a  line  as  the  horse.  They 
are  very  active,  and  can  clear  a  five-baired  gate  with  the  oreatcst 


THE 


ANATOMICAL  STRUCTURE 


AND 


DISEASES    OF   CATTLE 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  STRUCTURE  AND  DISEASES  OE  THE  HEAD  0>  THE  OX. 


Having  described  the  various  breeds  of  cattle,  and  touched  in- 
cidentallv  on  some  of  the  principles  of  breeding,  we  are  now  prepared 
to  enter  into  the  consideration  of  the  structure  of  the  ox.  This  will 
afford  us  opportunity  of  more  satisfactorily  elucidatmg  the  peculiari- 
ties, or  points,  on  the  development  of  which  the  excellence  of  the 
beast,  for  certain  purposes,  is  supposed  to  depend  ;  and  will  also 
enable  us  to  understand  the  nature  and  proper  treatment  of  the 
diseases  to  which  neat  cattle  are  subject.  The  first  is  an  important 
but  disputed  topic :  it  has  been  founded  too  much  on  mere  assertion  ; 
it  has  varied  with  the  caprice  of  individuals,  or  the  fashion  of  the 
day  ;  and  it  has  rarely  been  referred  to  principle,  and  to  the  neces- 
sary effect  of  certain  conformations  on  the  capacity  of  the  animal  for 
certain  purposes :  the  latter,  more  important  still,  has  been  aUo- 
gcther  neglected,  for  until  lately  there  did  not  exist,  in  the  English 
language,  "and  scarcely  in  any  other,  a  scientific  and  satisfactory  ac- 
count of  the  nature  and  causes  and  cure  of  the  maladies  of  neat  cat- 
tle ;  but  these  animals  were,  with  few  exceptions,  abandoned  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  those  whose  practice  may  be  characterized  as  a 
compound  of  ignorance  and  bi'utality. 

For  the  purpose  of  future  reference,  we  first  introduce  the  skele- 
ton of  the  ox. 


THE    FROXTAL    SINEUS. 


145 


Tlie  head  of  the  ox  may  be  divided  into  two  parts — the  skull  and 
the  face.     The  cut,  page  144,  represents  a  section  of  both. 

The  cranium  or  skull,  that  portion  of  the  head  which  contains  and 
protects  the  brain,  is  composed  of  eight  bones  :  two  frontals  e,  p.  143, 
and  b,  p.  i  44  ;  one  parietal,  h,  p.  143  ;  two  temporals,  g,  p.  143,  and/, 
p.  144  ;  one  occipital,  i,  p.  143  ;  and  d  and  I,  p.  144  ;  one  ethmoid,  n, 
and  r,  p.  144  ;  and  one  sphenoid,  m,  p.  144. 

The  frontal  bones  extend  from  the  nose  to  the  superior  ridge  of  the 
skull ;  presenting  a  flattened  but  irregular  surface,  and  entirely  bare 
of  muscular  or  fleshy  covering. 


•^•S.GILBERT 
HEAD  OF  A    SHORT-HORX  BULL 


THE    FROXTAL    BONES. 

Nattire  has  given  to  most  cattle  a  formidable  weapon  of  offence, 
the  horn.  To  be  effective,  it  must  be  securely  based  ;  and  it  could 
only  be  so,  or  it  could  best  be  so,  by  this  expanse  of  frontal  bone. 
From  this  bone  the  horn  springs,  and  it  is  in  fact  a  continuation  of 
the  frontal,  (see  a,  p.  144.)  The  forehead  of  the  bull  is  considerably 
shorter  and  broader  than  that  of  the  cow  or  the  ox  in  every  breed. 
This  shortness  and  breadth  of  forehead  is  not  only  characteristic  of 
diflference  of  sex,  but  it  is  regarded,  and  properly ^^  as  an  essential 


146  CATTLE. 


point  in  a  bull.  A  deficiency  here  argues  deficiency  of  ccns;itutional 
power,  and  materially  diminishes  his  value  as  a  stock-getter;  a  cow 
with  a  large  head  and  broad  forehead,  in  other  respects  loses  the 
most  valuable  points  of  tlie  feminine  character — she  is  neither  a  good 
milker,  nor  a  good  mother,  nor  does  she  often  fatten  kindly  ;  there  is 
coarseness  in  her  whole  form,  and  her  very  flesh  is  coarse,  when 
slaughtered.  There  is  no  point  more  generally  assented  to  by 
breeders  that  this — that  a  tine  small  head,  tapering  towards  the 
muzzle,  usually  indicates  a  good  milker  and  a  good  feeder,  and  a  good 
temper  too. 

Tiie  cut  of  the  head  of  the  bull,  page  145,  except  somewhat  too 
narrow  a  muzzle,  is  a  good  illustration  of  the  masculine  character  of 
a  superior  bull  of  the  improved  short-horn  breed. 

In  some  species  of  hornless  cattle  the  expanse  of  this  bone  not 
being  wanted  as  a  base  for  the  horn,  is  not  found  ;  but  the  frontal 
bones  begin  to  contract  a  little  above  the  eyes,  and  terminate  in  a 
comparatively  narrow  ridge  at  the  summit  of  the  head.  This  narrow- 
ness of  the  parietal  ridge  is  a  characteristic  of  the  purity  of  the  breed 
and  its  grazing  qualities,  particularly  among  the  Gallow^ay  and  xVngus 
cattle,  showing  fineness  of  form,  and  smallness  of  bone  everywhere. 

THE    FRONTAL    SINUSES. 

If  this  expanse  of  bone  were  solid,  its  weight  would  be  enormous, 
and  it  would  weigh  the  animal  down.  To  obviate  this,  it  is  divided 
into  two  plates,  separated  by  numerous  cells  ;  these  extend  through 
the  whole  of  the  bone,  even  through  the  parietal  and  occipital  bones. 
Hence  the  frontal  sinuses  extend  from  th^  angle  of  the  eye  to  the 
foramen  through  which  the  brain  escapes  from  the  skull,  and  to  the 
very  tip  of  the  horn  (vide  a  and  c,  p.  144.) 

There  is  a  septum,  or  division,  in  the  centre  of  the  frontal  sinuses. 
Commencing  about  half  way  up  the  nose,  the  septum  is  wanting  at 
the  lower  part,  and  the  two  nostrils  are  thrown  into  one ;  and  the 
frontal  sinuses  communicating  with  the  nasal,  there  is  one  continuous 
cavity  from  the  muzzle  to  the  tip  of  the  bone  of  the  horn,  and  from 
one  nostril  to  the  other. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    FRONTAL    SINUSES. 

The  whole  of  this  cavity  is  lined  by  a  prolongation  of  the  mem- 
brane of  the  nose,  and  when  one  part  of  it  is  inflamed,  the  whole  is 
apt  to  be  affected.  This  accounts  for  the  very  serious  character 
which  a  discharge  from  the  nostril  sometimes  assumes  in  cattle. 
The  sooner  a  gleet  from  the  nose  of  an  ox  is  examined  and  properly 
treated  the  better,  for  the  inflammation  is  extensive  generally. 

After  a  little  cough,  with  slight  nasal  discharge,  we  occasionally 


THE  FORAMINA  OF  THE  FOREHEAD.  147 

find  the  beast  r  ipidly  becoming  dull  and  drooping,  and  carrying  his 
head  on  one  side.  Either  grubs  or  worms  have  crept  up  the  nostril, 
and  are  a  source  of  irritation  there  ;  or  inflammation,  at  first  merely  of 
the  membrane  of  the  nose,  and  connected  with  common  cold,  has 
extended  along  the  cavity,  and  is  more  intense  in  some  particular  spot 
than  in  others  ;  or  has  gone  on  to  suppuration,  and  matter  is  thrown 
out  and  lodged  there,  and  generally  about  the  root  of  one  of  the 
horns.  The  veterinary  surgeon  either  opens  the  skull  at  the  root  of 
the  horn,  or,  in  a  more  summary  and  better  way,  cuts  off  the  horn  at 
its  root.  More  than  a  pin\  of  pus  sometimes  esxiapes  ;  and  although 
there  may  not  be  throwing  out  of  pus,  yet  the  inflammation  will  be 
materially  relieved  by  the  bleeding  that  follows -such  an  operation. 
The  opening  into  the  sinus  which  is  thus  made  should  be  speedily 
closed,  or  the  air  will  render  the  inflammation  worse  than  before. 

On  account  of  the  vast  extent  of  cavity  from  the  communication 
between  all  the  partitions  of  the  sinus,  the  ox  occasionally  sufters 
much  from  the  larva  of  a  species  of  fly  that  creeps  up  the  nose  and 
lodges  in  some  part ;  the  annoyance  is  sometimes  so  great  as  to  be 
scarcely  distinguished  from  phrenitis.  This  does  not  often  happen  ; 
for  the  sinuses  are  more  the  accidental  than  the  natural  and  regular 
habitation  of  these  insects. 

THE    USE    OF    THESE    SINUSES. 

These  plates  of  the  skull  are  separated  from  each  other  at  least  an 
inch  at  all  places,  and  in  some  parts  more  than  double  that  distance 
(see  cut,  p.  144).  The  skull  is  the  covering  of  the  brain.  The  wea- 
pons of  off"ence  spring  from  the  skull,  and  are  often  used  with  terrible 
eflfect  about  the  skull  The  polled  cattle  use  their  heads  as  weapons 
of  oftence,  and  butt  each  other  with  tremendous  foi'ce.  If  the  frontal 
bone  were  so  solid  as  almost  to  resist  the  very  possibility  of  fracture, 
yet  if  the  brain  lay  immediately  underneath  it,  the  concussion  from 
the  shock  of  their  rude  encounters  would  be  dangerous,  and  often 
fatal.  Therefore  the  bones  are  divided  into  two  plates,  and  separated 
as  widely  as  possible  from  each  other,  where,  as  at  the  parietal  crest, 
and  the  root  of  the  horn,  the  shock  is  most  likely  to  fall.  There  are 
also  inserted  between  the  plates  numerous  little  perpendicular  walls, 
or  rather  scales  of  bone,  (see  c,  p.  144,)  of  vafer-like  thinness,  which 
give  sufficient  support  to  the  outer  plate  in  all  ordinary  cases,  and  by 
their  thinness  and  elasticity  afford  a  yielding  resistance  capable  of 
neutralizing  almost  any  force.  If  the  external  plate  is  fractured,  the 
inner  one  is  seldom  injured. 

THE  FORAMINA  OF  THE  FOREHEAD. 

There  are  marks  of  contrivance  in  the  structure  of  the  head  of  the 
ox,  which  should  not  be  passed  over.     The  large  expanse  of  the 


148  CATTLE. 


ox's  fore]] ead  requires  much  nervous  influence,  and  a  great  supply 
of  blood  ;  and,  therefore,  there  are  two  foramina,  or  holes  one  for  the 
escape  of  the  nerve,  and  the  other  of  the  artery.  Each  of  these, 
however,  must  be  of  considerable  bulk,  and  they  have  to  run  over 
a  surface,  where  they  are  exposed  to  much  danger.  There  is  pro- 
vision made  for  this — a  curious  groove  in  which  they  run  for  some 
distance  above  and  below,  securely  defended  by  the  ridge  of  bone  on 
either  side,  until  they  give  off  various  branches,  and  are  so  diminished 
in  bulk,  that  they  are  comparatively  out  of  the  reach  of  injury.  If 
the  nerve  or  the  artery  were  injured,  the  nervous  influence  and  the 
blood  would  be  supplied  by  other  ramifications. 

THE    ARCH    UNDER    WHICH    THE    TEMPORAL    MUSCLE    PLAYS. 

A  strong  process  of  the  frontal  bone  goes  to  contribute  to  the 
formation  of  the  zygomatic  arch,  under  which  the  head  of  the  lower 
jaw  moves  and  is  defended  ;  and  the  act  of  mastication  is  thus 
securely  performed.  In  the  ox  the  teeth  are  never  weapons  of 
off"ence  ;  he  may  gore  and  trample  upon  his  enemy,  but  he  does  not 
bite  him  :  and  his  food  is  leisurely  gathered  in  the  first  imperfect  mas- 
tication, and  still  more  lazily  and  sleepily  ground  down  in  rumination ; 
this  arch  therefore  need  not  be,  and  is  not,  capacious  and  strong.  It  is, 
from  situation  and  the  general  shape  of  the  head,  exempt  from  vio- 
lence and  injury ;  and  therefore  the  arch  not  only  does  not  project 
for  the  purpose  of  strength,  and  to  give  room  for  a  mass  of  muscle 
that  is  not  wanted,  and  the  frontal  bone  does  not  enter  into  its  com- 
position at  all.     (See  g  and  e,  p.  143.) 

THE    HORNS. 

The  froncals  in  the  ox  in  their  prolongation  make  the  horns.  The 
foetus  of  three  months  has  no  horn ;  during  the  fourth  month  it  may 
be  detected  by  a  little  irregularity  of  the  frontal  bone,  and  by  the 
seventh  month  is  evident  to  the  eye  elevating  the  skin.  It  now 
gradually  forces  its  way  through  the  cutis  or  skin,  which  it  has 
accomplished  at  the  time  of  birth  ;  and,  continuing  to  grow,  detaches 
the  cuticle  or  scarf  skin  from  the  cutis,  and  carries  it  with  it ;  and 
this  gradually  hardening  over  it,  forms  the  rudiment  of  the  future 
covering  of  the  bone  of  the  horn.  Beneath  this  cuticle  the  horn  soon 
begins  to  form ;  but  it  continues  covered  until  the  animal  is  twelve 
or  fifteen  months  old,  giving  a  skinny  roughness,  which  then  peals  ott", 
showing  the  shining  and  perfect  horn.  The  horn  then  is  composed 
of  an  elongation  of  the  frontal  bone,  cov^ered  by  a  hard  coating,  origi- 
nally of  a  gelatinous  nature.  Its  base  is  a  continuation  of  the  frontal 
bone,  and  is  hollow  or  divided  into  numerous  cells,  (a  and  c,  p.  144,) 
all  communic  iting  with  each  other,  and  lined  by  a  continuation  of  the 
membrane  of  the  nose. 


J 


FRACTURE   OF  THE   HORN.  149 

The  bone  of  the  horn  is  exceedingly  vascular ;  the  most  vascular 
in  the  whole  frame,  for  it  has  not  only  vessels  for  its  own  nourish- 
ment, but  for  that  of  its  covering  ;  it  is  much  roughened  on  its  sur- 
face, and  is  perforated  by  innumerable  vessels.  It  is  on  this  account 
that  when  it  is  broken  the  bleeding  is  so  great — it  would  scarcely  be 
more  profuse  from  the  amputation  of  a  limb. 

FRACTURE    OF    THE    HORN. 

Young  bullocks  will  often  too  early  use  their  horns.  In  this  way 
the  biOrn  occasionally  gets  fractured.  If  the  bone  of  the  horn  is 
broken,  but  the  external  covering  is  not  displaced,  nothing  is  neces- 
sary but  to  fix  splents  to  the  part,  and  bind  well  up,  so  that  the 
fractured  edges  shall  be  kept  securely  in  place,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
all  will  be  well. 

Sometimes  the  horny  covering  is  torn  off.  If  the  bone  is  not  frac- 
tured, it  will  be  best  to  leave  it  to  nature.  There  will  be  a  great  deal 
of  haemorrhage  at  first;  but  this  ceasing,  leaves  the  bone  covered  by 
coagulated  blood  This  hardens  and  foi-ms  a  temporary  case  for  the 
bone.  In  the  meantime  another  process  commences  at  the  base  of 
the  bone.  A  dense  flexible  substance  is  found  there,  and  this  begins 
rapidly  to  thicken  and  harden,  and  to  assume  the  character  of  good 
horn  ;  it  then  runs  up  the  bone,  displaces  the  crust  of  coagulated 
blood  as  it  grows,  and  covers  the  bone  completely  and,  much  resem- 
bles and  is  nearly  as  strong  as  the  original  horn. 

At  other  times,  after  ihe  horny  covering  has  been  torn  off,  the 
bone  will  be  found  to  be  fractured,  but  the  parts  not  perfectly  sepa- 
rated. They  must  be  brought  in  exact  apposition,  bound  carefully  up, 
and  confined  with  splents,  or  strong  bandages.  Union  between  the 
edges  of  the  bone  will  speedily  take  place,  new  liorn  grow  over,  and 
there  will  be  scarcely  a  mark  of  the  accident. 

At  other  times,  not  only  is  the  horny  covering  torn  off,  but  the 
bone  is  also  perfectly  separated.  The  bone  will  never  be  reproduced  ; 
nature  will  often  attempt  it,  and  a  rude  mass  will  be  formed,  half 
bony  and  half  cartilaginous.  To  prevent  this,  the  horn  must  be 
sawed  off  level  below  the  fracture,  and  the  nearer  the  head  the  better, 
because  it  will  be  the  sooner  covered  by  a  prolongation  of  the  cuticle. 
The  hot  iron  must  be  frequently  passed  over  the  level  surface,  after 
which  this  reproduction  will  seldom  be  attempted ;  or,  if  it  is,  may 
be  easily  destroyed  by  the  cautery.  As  soon  as  the  bone  has  been 
sawed  off  level,  and  the  bleeding  stopped,  and  the  cautery  applied  to 
the  exposed  suiface,  the  part  must  be  bound  up  as  quickly  as  possible 
with  one  tar-cloth  above  another,  so  as  completely  to  exclude  the  air : 
for  the  air  being  now  admitted  unrestrained  to  the  frontal  sinuses,  so 
irritable,  it  may  produce  dangerous  inflammation.  Cases  are  frequent 
in  which  inflammation  of  the  brain  or  lock-jaw  have  followed  a  broken 


150  CATTLE 


horn,  and  from  this  cause — the  exposure  of  the  hning  membran(J  of 
the  cells  of  the  head  to  the  unaccustomed  stimulus  of  the  air. 

COMPOSITION    AND    GROWTH    OF    THE    HORNY    COVERING. 

The  horn  is  exceedingly  thin  at  its  base,  and  appears  as  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  cuticle  ;  dissection  cannot  trace  any  separation  be- 
tween them ;  but  maceration  has  proved  that  the  cuticle  and  the 
coverinnr  of  the  bone  of  the  horn  are  two  distinct  substances.  In  the 
ox,  from  a  prolongation  of  the  cuticle  proceeds  the  covering  of  the 
bone  of  the  horn,  or  at  least  the  basis  of  it.  The  rings  at  the  base 
of  the  horn,  and  which  gradually  recede  from  the  base,  prove  this  : 
but  the  horn  thickens  as  it  grows  out,  and  this  thickening,  and  the 
greater  portion  of  the  horn,  are  derived  from  the  vascular  substance 
that  surrounds  the  bone,  and  which  is  fed  by  the  innumerable  ves- 
sels, that  are  interposed  between  it  and  the  horn. 

RINGS    OF    THE    HORN. 

These  rings  have  been  considered  as  a  criterion  by  which  to  de- 
termine the  age  of  the  ox.  At  three  years  old,  the  first  distinct  one 
is  usually  observed  :  at  four  years  old  two  are  seen  ;  and  so  on,  one 
being  added  on  each  succeeding  year.  Hence  the  rule,  that  if  two 
be  added  to  the  number  of  rings,  the  age  of  the  animal  would  be 
given. 

These  rings,  however,  are  perfectly  distinct  in  the  cow  only  ;  in 
the  ox  they  do  not  appear  until  he  is  five  years  old,  and  are  often 
confused  :  in  the  bull  they  are  either  not  seen  until  five,  or  cannot 
be  traced  at  all.  They  are  not  always  distinct  in  the  cow  ;  the  two 
or  three  first  may  be,  but  then  come  mere  irregularities  of  surface, 
that  can  scarcely  be  said  to  be  rings,  and  which  it  is  impossible  to 
count.  If  a  heifer  goes  to  bull  when  she  is  about  two  years  old, 
there  is  an  immediate  change  in  the  horn,  and  the  first  ring  appears ; 
so  that  a  real  three-year-old  would  carry  the  mark  of  a  four-year- 
old.  After  the  beast  is  six  or  seven  years  old,  these  rings  are  so 
UTegular  that  the  age  indicated  by  the  two  horns  is  not  always  the 
same.  A  difference  of  one  year  is  seen,  and  in  some  instances  the 
horns  do  not  agree  by  two  years  at  -east.  As  a  process  of  nature, 
it  is  far  too  irregular  for  any  certain  dependence. 

THE  DEGREE  OF  FEVER  ESTIMATED  BY  THE  HORN. 

The  farrier  and  the  cow  leech,  Avhen  examining  a  sick  beast,  feel 
the  root  of  the  horn  and  the  tip  of  the  ear.  There  is  much  good 
sense  about  this.  If  the  temperature  is  natural  in  both,  there  is  no 
great  degree  of  fever  ;  but  if  the  ears  are  deathy  cold,  it  shows  that 
the  blood  is  no  longer  circulating  through  the  small  vessels,  but  con- 
gesting round  some  important  organ,  the  seat  of  inflammation — and 


OCCASIONAL  HOKNS  Ui\   THE  GALLOWAYS.  151 

nothing  can  be  more  dangerous.  He  also  gains  from  the  horn  an 
indication  quite  as  important.  The  horn  at  the  base  is  very  thin  ;  as 
much  so  as  the  cuticle  or  scarf-skin,  and  covers  one  of  the  most  vas- 
cular bones  in  the  whole  body.  Nowhere  else  can  the  practitioner 
get  so  near  to  the  circulating  fluid,  or  to  so  great  a  quantity  of  it. 
He,  therefore,  puts  his  hand  on  the  root  of  the  horn,  to  see  the  pre- 
cise temperature  of  the  blood,  and  thus  to  judge  of  the  degree  of 
general  fever  or  constitutional  disturbance. 

THE  HORNS  THE  DISTINGUISHING  CHARACTER  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  BREEDS. 

We  have  classed  the  different  breeds  of  cattle  according  to  the 
length  of  horn,  and  we  cannot  have  a  better  guide.  In  the  crosses 
between  them,  the  horns  follow  a  determined  course ;  as  long  as  the 
breed  remains  pure,  cattle  may  be  increased  or  diminished  in  size, 
be  changed  in  the  proportions  of  various  parts  for  certain  purposes — 
be  made  true  grazing  or  dairy  cattle,  but  the  horn  remains  the 
same  ;  it  is  the  distinguishing  badge  of  the  breed. 

In  the  present  race  of  short-horns  there  is  a  great  variety  in  the 
form  of  the  horn.  Some  think  this  of  little  or  no  consequence  ;  we  are 
not  of  that  number.  It  sometimes  tells  tales  of  crosses  long  gone  by  or 
forgotten,  and  totally  unsuspected ;  and  it  is  possible  that  they  indi- 
cate certain  peculiarities,  excellences  or  defects,  reaching  perhaps  to 
no  great  extent,  yet  worthy  of  notice.  A  treatise  on  the  horns  of 
cattle  might  be  made  a  very  interesting  work  ;  but  it  would  require 
experience  that  rarely  falls  to  one  man's  lot,  and  an  unusual  freedom 
from  hypothesis  and  prejudice. 

THE  INFLUENCE  OF  SEX  ON  THE  HORNS. 

Of  the  influence  of  sex  on  the  horn,  we  have  proof  every  day  ;  but 
it  is  exerted  in  our  domestic  cattle  in  a  manner  different  from  all 
other  ruminants.  It  is  the  head  of  the  male,  when  in  his  wild  state, 
that  is  usually  horned  ;  the  castrated  male  loses  his  altogether,  or 
wears  diminutive  ones ;  while  the  female  is  generally  hornless.  On 
the  contrary,  the  tame  bull  is  distinguished  by  a  short,  straight,  in- 
significant and  ugly  horn ;  while  a  weaker,  but  longer,  handsomer, 
and  beautifully  curved  horn  adorns  the  head  of  the  ox  ;  and  a  still 
more  delicately-shaped  one  the  cow. 

OCCASIONAL    HORNS  ON    THE  GALLOWAYS. 

The  most  singrular  horn  is  that  which  now  and  then  hanefs  from 
the  brow  of  some  polled  cattle.  It  is  no  prolongation  of  the  frontal 
bone  ;  is  not  attached  to  that  or  any  bone  of  the  head ;  but  grows 
from  the  skin,  and  han^s  down  on  the  side  of  the  face. 


JS2  CATTLE. 


THE    FRONTALS    IN    P0LL::D  C  vTTLE. 

The  frontal  bones  hold  the  same  situation  in  polled  cattle.  They 
reach  from  the  nasal  bones  to  the  parietal  ridge ;  but  they  materi- 
ally diminish  in  breadth  towards  the  poll.  The  breeders  of  polled 
cattle  consider  this  a  proof  of  pureness  of  blood,  and  of  the  pos- 
session of  a  disposition  to  fatten. 

Large  cavities  between  the  plates  of  the  frontal  bone  are  found  in 
the  polled  as  , well  as  in  the  horned  breed;  but  they  are  not  so 
deep,  nor  do  they  extend  beyond  the  frontals,  varying  much  in  the 
different  breeds  of  cattle. 

COMPARISON    BETWEEN    THE    HORNED  AND    HORNLESS  BREEDS. 

There  was  a  time  when  this  question  was  much  discussed.  It 
was  taken  for  granted,  by  those  who  had  more  theory  than  practi- 
cal experience,  that  the  horns  were  not  only  useless  but  a  serious 
evil ;  and  a  scientific  surgeon  has  scrupled  not  to  say,  that,  "  on  a 
very  moderate  calculation,  the  loss  in  farming  stock,  and  also  in 
animal  food,  is  very  considerable  from  the  production  of  horns  and 
their  appendages."  The  fact,  how^ever,  has  never  been  thoroughly 
determined,  whether  the  Galloway,  or  the  Kyloe,  is  the  most  profita- 
ble grazing  stock ;  each  has  its  advocates,  and  each  is  excellent. 
But  it  has  been  deteraiined,  that  during  the  reign  of  the  Bakewel- 
lian  stock,  no  cattle  displayed  such  a  propensity  to  fatten  as  the 
long-horns  ;  and  as  the  chest  became  deeper  and  more  circular,  and 
the  aptitude  to  fatten  developed  itself,  the  horn  lengthened.  It  has 
also  been  determined,  that  for  grazing  and  milking  properties,  and 
particularly  for  early  maturity,  no  cattle  can  vie  with  the  short-horns. 

The  existence  of  horns,  or  the  length  of  the  horn,  have  in  them- 
selves no  connection  at  all  with  grazing,  or  with  milking :  a  beast 
does  not  fatten  the  quicker  because  there  are  no  horns  to  consume  a 
portion  of  the  nutriment,  nor  is  he  longer  in  getting  into  condition 
because  he  has  them.  They  are  ornamental ;  they  cost  the  breeder 
nothing ;  they  are  useful  for  various  purposes  ;  and  they  bring  so 
much  clear  gain  to  the  manufacturer.  The  hornless  cattle  may, 
however,  be  packed  closer  than  the  others,  and,  destitute  of  the 
natural  weapon  of  offence,  are  less  quarrelsome  and  more  docile. 

THE    OTHER    BONES    OF    THE    SKULL. 

We  shall  be  very  brief  in  our  iccount  of  the  other  bones  of  the 
skull,  as  little  of  a  practical  nature  is  conirected  with  them. 

The  Parietal  hone. — In  the  ox  {h,  p.  143,)  not  the  smallest  portion 
of  it  appears  on  the  superior  part  of  the  head ;  but  it  is  found  at 
ihe  back  of  it,  usurping  the  place  of  'the  occipital  bone,  giving 
attachment  to  the  muscles  of  the  neck,  and  particularly  to  its  strong 
supporting  ligament  [m,  p.  143).  It,  however,  spreads  along  the 
side   below  the  horn,  giving   it   some  support ;  and  it   unites  there 


PECULIARITIES  OF  THE  BRAIN  OF  THE  OX.  158 

with  the  temporal  bone,  and  contributes  to  the  strength  of  the 
part. 

The  Temporal  bones. — These  bones  (g,  p.  143  and  144,)  have  no 
stress  upon  tliem  in  cattle ;  are  small,  deep  in  the  tempora  i  fossa,  and 
destitute  of  the  squamous  suture.  The  most  important  difference  is 
the  form  of  the  superficial  cavity  which  receives  the  head  of  the  low- 
er jaw,  and  which  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  lateral  grinding  mo- 
tion of  rumination. 

The  Occipital  bone. — This  bone  is,  in  the  ox,  deprived  of  almost  all 
importance.  There  is  no  crest,  no  tuberosity,  and  very  small  con- 
dyles, for  attachment  to  the  neck  ;  and  even  its  base,  although  a  lit- 
tle widened,  is  much  curtailed  in  length.  It,  however,  still  contains 
the  great  foramen  through  which  the  spinal  marrow  escapes  from 
the  skull  (i,  p.  142,  and  d  and  I,  p.  144).  There  are  two  foramina 
for  the  passage  of  nerves. 

The  Sphenoid  and  Ethmoid  bones  are  of  little  importance  here. 

THE     BRAIN. 

All  these  bones  unite  to  form  the  cranial  cavity  in  which  the 
brain  is  contained.  It  is  surrounded  by  membranes.  Comparing  the 
bulk  of  the  two  animals,  the  brain  of  the  ox  is  not  more  than  one- 
half  the  size  of  that  of  the  horse.  The  medullary  substance  which 
forms  the  roots  of  the  nerves  is  as  largtj  and  some  of  the  neiwes,  and 
particularly  the  olfactory  nerve,  or  thai  of  smell,  are  as  much  de- 
veloped ;  the  deficiency  is  in  the  cineritious  part — that  part  connect- 
ed with  the  intellectual  principle.  The  medullary  substance  is  that 
by  which  impressions  made  by  surrounding  objects  are  conveyed  to 
the  brain,  and  received  there,  and  the  volitions  of  the  mind  transmitted, 
aid  motion  given  to  every  part :  the  cineiitious  is  that  portion  where 
the  impressions  are  received,  and  registered,  and  pondered  upon,  and 
made  the  means  of  intellectual  improvement,  and  from  which  the 
mandates  of  the  will  proceed.  The  senses  of  the  ox  are  as  acute  as 
those  of  the  horse  ;  he  sees  as  clearly,  hears  as  quickly,  and  has  the. 
sense  of  smelling  in  greater  perfection ;  but  he  has  not  half  the  sa- 
gacity. He  partly  has  it  not,  because  he  does  not  receive  the  educa- 
tion of  the  iiorse  ;  but  more,  because  nature,  b}'  diminishing  the  bulk 
of  the  intellectual  portion  of  the  brain,  has  deprived  him  of  the  power 
of  much  improvement.  Yet  the  difference  is  in  degree,  and  not  in 
kind.  He  possesses  sufficient  intellect  to  qualify  him  for  the  situa- 
tion in  which  nature  has  placed  him. 

'  PECULIARITIES    OF    THE    BRAIN    OF    THE    OX. 

Of  the  peculiarities  of  the  brain  of  the  ox  we  will  say  little,  for 
they  are  unconnected  with  that  which  is  the  object  of  our  treatise, 
the  useful  knowledge  of   tte  animal       The  posterior  part   of  the 

n* 


154  CATTLE. 


brain,  under  the  cerebellum,  or  little  brain,  and  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  spinal  chord,  is  a  condensation  of  medullary  matter, 
(the  medulla  oblongata,)  whence  proceed  the  nerves  that  are  con- 
nected witi  the  involuntary  motions  of  life,  and  by  which  the  heart 
beats,  and  the  lungs  play,  and  the  intestines  propel  the  food.  In 
cattle  this  part  is,  in  proportion  t©  the  size  of  the  animal,  of  great 
bulk,  for  they  have  to  contiibute  to  the  food  of  man ;  and  the  heart 
Tnust  s-'j-ongly  beat,  and  the  stomach  and  the  intestines  must  be 
constantly  and  actively  at  work,  to  furnish  the  requisite  quantity  of 
milk  v.hen  living,  and  abundance  of  flesh  and  fat  when  slaughtered. 
The  ox,  however,  is,  in  a  manner,  exempt  from  labor.  Even  in 
the  districts  in  which  he  is  employed  on  the  farm  or  the  road,  his 
work  is  slow.  At  the  termination  of  this  medulla  oblongata  com- 
mences the  spinal  chord,  whence  proceed  all  the  nerves  connected 
with  the  voluntary  motions  of  the  body.  Now,  although  the  medulla 
oblongata  is  proportionally  larger  in  the  ox  than  in  the  horse,  for 
the  reason  we  have  just  stated,  the  spinal  chord  is  considerably 
smaller,  because  so  much  muscular  power  is  not  needed. 

THE    EAR. 

In  horned  cattle,  the  ears,  often  comparatively  small,  and,  from  their 
situation,  limited  in  their  motions,  and  seldom  erect,  are  little  regard- 
ed. The  bull  has  usuallv  the  shorter  horn  and  the  larger  ear  ;  in  some 
breeds,  particularly  the  Kyloe,  and  the  Xyloe  bull  more  especially,  it 
has  much  to  do  with  the  beauty  of  the  head. 

In  polled  cattle,  the  ear,  of  a  fair  size  but  not  too  large,  freely 
movable,  and  well  fringed,  corresponds  with  the  beautifully  curled 
forehead,  and  is  a  point  of  some  importance.  A  large  ear  is  general- 
ly objected  to,  as  indicating  coarseness  of  form,  and  possibly  of  fles!^. 
llie  only  advantage  of  a  large  ear  would  be,  that  it  might  be  better 
able  to  discliarge  one  of  its  functions,  to  guard  the  eyes  from  injury. 
A  person  cannot  long  observe  an  ox,  without  admiring  the  adroit 
use  he  makes  of  his  ears  for  this  purpose  :  but  even  the  weight  of 
the  ear  would  probably  interfere  with  the  requisite  rapidity  of  motion. 
The  ear  of  the  ox  is  furnished  with  two  additional  muscles,  for  this 
purpose. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    EAR. 

The  enrs  of  cattle  are  comparatively  exempt  from  disease.  The 
passage  into  the  ear  is  tortuous  and  guarded  with  hair.  The  irreg- 
ularities of  the  conch  are  large  and  abrupt.  'J'he  inoonveniences 
which  arise  from  the  introduction  of  insects  into  the  ear  seldom  oc- 
cur. To  contusions  these  organs  are  much  exposed,  producing  swell- 
ing abscess,  and  deafness.  Fomentations  will  aflbrd  the  principal 
means  of  relief  or  cure,  with  occasional  washing  out  of  the  ear  with 


DISEASES    OF   THE  EAR.  16G 

wanii  water,  or  soap  and  water,  and  the  application  of  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  Goulard,  while  much  inflammation  remains,  and  of  a  still 
weaker  solution  of  alum,  when  the  inflammation  has  subsided. 

Simple  inflammation  of  the  ear  is  a  rare  disease  in  cattle.  It  is 
recognized  by  the  animal  carrying  his  head  a  little  on  one  side  ;  this 
is  plainly  referable  to  the  ear  from  the  heat  and  tenderness  of  its 
base  both  within  and  without,  and  a  kind  of  immobility  of  the  ear, 
resulting  from  the  pain  which  the  animal  suffers  in  moving  it.  Bleed- 
ing from  the  neck  vein,  a  dose  of  physic,  and  fomentation  of  the 
part,  will  usually  give  relief ;  and  afterwards  a  lotion  composed  of  a 
drachm  of  the  extract  of  lead  and  the  same  of  laudanum  added  to 
four  ounces  of  water :  a  little  of  this  may  be  poured  into  the  ear, 
and  the  ear  gently  squeezed  so  that  th-^  lotion  shall  find  its  way  to 
every  part  of  it. 

Sometimes  the  beast  is  much  annoyed  by  an  itching  of  the  ear. 
A  dry  scurfiness  spreads  over  a  greater  or  less  part  of  the  skin  of 
the  inside  of  the  ear.  A  healing  ointment  will  aflford  the  most  ready 
cure.  A  little  must  be  gently  but  well  rubbed  into  the  inside  of  the 
ear,  until  the  scuify  skin  is  softened,  and  be  repeated  daily.  The 
ointment  is  thus  composed : — melt  together  four  pounds  of  lard,  and 
one  of  common  resin  ;  set  them  by  to  cool,  and  when  they  begin  to 
thicken,  stir  in  one  pound  of  calamine  powder,  inibbed  down  to  a 
state  of  the  greatest  possible  fineness.  In  a  very  few  instances  a 
collection  of  fluid  will  appear  between  the  cartilage  and  the  inner 
skin  of  the  ear.  The  tumor  must  be  opened  from  end  to  end. 
Still  more  rarely  fungous  granulations  spring  up  from  the  base  of 
the  ear.  They  must  be  cut  down  Avith  a  knife.  Kitrate  of  silver 
must  then  be  applied  over  the  exposed  surface,  and  an  alum  wash, 
not  too  strong,  afterwards  used. 

Homoccpathic  Treatment. — If  there  be  a  foreign  body  in  the  ear,  it 
should  be  removed,  and  arnica  water  be  injected  with  asmall  syringe. 
]f  insects  are  the  cause,  a  little  oil  is  to  be  poured  into  the  ear.  If 
the  inflammation,  from  being  neglected,  has  passed  into  suppuration, 
pus  is  the  best  topical  application :  elaborated  by  the  vital  force  in 
the  wound,  it  serves  chiefly  to  disintegrate  the  particles  which  have 
been  contused  or  otherwise  injured,  to  efi'ect  the  expulsion  of  foreign 
bodies,  such  as  splinters,  &c.,  and  to  dispose  the  edges  of  tlie  wound 
to  unite  by  means  of  fleshy  granulations.  It  is  a  great  mistake  then 
to  remove  it ;  it  diminishes  of  itself  as  the  granulations  acquire  suf- 
ficient consistence  to  form  the  tissue  of  a  cicatrix.  To  fulfill  its  des- 
tination, it  must  be  of  good  quality.  Where  its  quality  or  characters 
are  not  such  as  they  should  be,  tliere  only  art  should  interfere,  as 
well  to  facilitate  the  cure  of  the  wound  itself  as  to  secure  and  pre- 
serve the  adjoining  parts.  The  means  to  which  we  are  to  have 
recourse  are :  arnica,  internally  and  externally,  in  wounds,  &c.,  of 
every  kind ;  mercurius  vivus  and  asafoetida,  in  ulcers  which  secrete 


156  CATTLE. 


a  liquid  and  fetid  pus  ;  arsenicum,  in  such  as  have  liard  and  everted 
edges,  with  pain,  inflammation,  and  pus  of  bad  odor;  chamomilla, 
sepia,  and  arsenicum,  when  granuhitions  grow  up  too  luxuriant; 
silicea,  when  the  pus  is  tliick  and  of  bad  color  ;  acidiun  phosphoricu77i, 
when,  after  a  wound,  the  skin  contracts  adhesion  to  the  bone. 

When  a  real  abscess  is  formed,  arsenicum  is  the  remedy  to  be 
employed.  However,  pulsatilla  is  very  useful  in  deep-seated  ab- 
scesses. When  the  swelling  has  been  caused  by  insects,  the  ear 
should  be  well  washed,  and  arnica  water  injected  into  it.  Petroleum 
is  by  some  considered  the  best  remedy  in  such  cases.  Some  doses 
of  sulphur  must  be  taken  internally. 

THE    EYE. 

The  orbit  of  the  eye  is  of  a  quadrilateral  shape  in  the  ox,  (^,  p.  143,) 
and  very  strongly  formed  above,  to  defend  it  from  the  violence  to 
which,  from  its  situation,  it  is  too  much  exposed,  and  below,  in  order 
to  protect  the  lachrymal  sac,  and  the  commencement  of  the  canal 
through  which  the  superfluous  moisture  flows  from  the  eye  to  the 
nose.  The  orbit,  and  particularly  the  upper  part,  the  superciliary 
ridge,  is  very  subject  to  fracture.  The  parts  must  be  placed  in  their 
natural  situation  ;  must  be  confined  there ;  and  inflammation  prevent- 
ed by  bleeding,  physicking,  &c. 

The  ox  is  often  Avounded  in  the  eye,  either  by  the  horn  of  one  of 
his  fellows  or  the  prong  of  the  brutal  attendant.  Here  must  be  no 
probing,  but  fomentations,  bleeding,  and  physic. 

It  is  too  much  owingr  to  the  thous^htless  or  brutal  conduct  of 
those  who  have  the  management  of  cattle,  that  the  ox,  oftener  than 
any  other  domestic  animal,  is  subject  to  bony  tumors  about  the 
eyes,  or  on  the  edge  of  the  orbit. 

These  tumors  appear  generally  on  the  external  part  of  the  orbit ; 
they  increase  with  greater  or  less  rapidity  ;  they  take  a  direction 
which  may  or  may  not  interfere  with  vision  ;  occasionally  they  bend 
towards  the  eye,  and  press  upon  it,  and  are  sources  of  torture  and 
blindness.  If  the  tumor  is  on  the  upper  part  of  the  orbit,  and  is 
attached  by  a  kind  of  pedicle,  it  may  be  sawed  off",  and  the  root 
touched  with  the  cautery  ;  in  other  situations  we  shall  generally 
be  confined  to  the  use  of  external  stimulants.  The  best  is  the 
cautery.  We  shall  not,  perhaps,  dare  to  apply  it  directly  to 
tlie  part,  but  there  is  a  method  by  which  we  may  obtain  the 
advantage  of  a  very  high  degree  of  temperature  without  destioy- 
ing  the  skin.  An  iron  is  to  be  prepared,  somewhat  hollovre'd, 
and  rather  larger  than  accurately  to  contain  the  tumor  in  its  hollow. 
A  piece  of  bacon-rind,  with  a  little  of  the  fat  attached  to  it,  is  then 
to  be  cut  to  the  shape  of  the  tumor,  and  so  as  to  cover  it ;  and  be- 
ing placed  over  it,  the  iron,  heated  nearly  red  hot,  is  to  be  applied 
upon  it,  and  firmly  held  there  for  the  space  of  two  or  three  minutes, 


THE  EYELIDS  AND  THEIR  DISEASES.  157 

and  afterwards  more  lightly  applied  until  the  rind  is  dried  or  burned. 
The  object  of  this  is  to  bring  a  degree  of  heat,  far  above  that  of 
boiling  water,  but  not  so  great  as  of  red  hot  iron,  to  bear  upon  the 
part.  The  fat  about  the  rind  is  heated  to  that  degree  which  will 
probably  be  sufficient  to  rouse  the  absorbents,  and  induce  them  to 
take  up  the  bone,  without  destroying  the  life  of  the  part ;  for  we 
shall  see  presently  that  it  is  a  tumor  of  a  peculiar  character.  This 
may  be  repeated  two  or  three  times,  with  intervals  of  two  days. 
Should  the  tumor  not  diminish,  nothing  more  can  be  done ;  for  these 
bony  growths  in  cattle,  arising  from  local  injury,  have  very  little  life  in 
them,  and  soon  degenerate  into  a  state  of  caries,  or  decay  of  the  bone. 

Sometimes  these  tumors  spring  from  the  back  of  the  orbit,  pro- 
duced by  the  injury  or  perforation  of  the  bone.  No  cure  can  be  ef- 
fected ;  if  the  eye  should  become  painful,  and  intensely  inflamed  and 
begin  to  protrude,  there  is  but  one  course,  to  destroy  the  animal. 

External  bony  tumors  frequently  ulcerate,  and  the  bone  becomes 
carious  or  decays.  No  possible  good  can  be  done  here,  and  human- 
ity and  interest  require  us  to  put  a  speedy  termination  to  the  animal. 

The  eyes  are  placed  quite  on  the  sides  of  the  face,  for  the  ox,  in 
a  state  of  nature,  being  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  ferocious  animals, 
needs  an  extended  field  of  vision  to  perceive  danger  in  every  quarter. 
He  is  oftener  the  pursued  than  the  pursuer,  and  requii-es  a  lateral, 
instead  of  a  somewhat  forward  direction  of  the  eyes.  The  eyes  are 
prominent,  to  increase  tlie  field  of  vision,  and  are  made  so  by  the  mass 
of  fat  accumulated  at  the  back  of  them.  A  prominent  eye  is  a  good 
point  in  a  beast ;  it  shows  the  magnitude  of  this  mass  of  fat,  and 
therefore  the  probability  of  fat  being  accumulated  elsewhere.  This 
prominence,  however,  should  not  be  accompanied  by  a  ferocious  or 
unquiet  look  ;  neither  the  grazing  nor  milking  beast  can  have  too 
placid  a  countenance,  or  be  too  quiet  and  docile. 

THE    EYELIDS    AND    THEIR    DISEASES. 

The  eye  is  supported  and  covered  by  the  lids,  which  were  designed 
to  close  at  the  approach  of  danger,  and  so  afford  protection  to  the 
eye  ;  to  supply  it  with  the  moisture  necessary  to  preserve  its  trans- 
parency ;  to  shield  it  from  the  light  when  diseased  ;  and  to  close 
over  it,  and  permit  the  repose  which  nature  requires.  At  the 
edge  of  the  lids  is  a  cartilage,  to  preserve  their  form,  and  to  enable 
them  to  close  accurately ;  and  along  these  edges  are  numerous  little 
openings,  w-hich  pour  out  an  unctuous  fluid  that  defends  them  from 
the  acrimony  of  the  tears. 

Cattle  are  subject  to  a  pustular  eruption  on  the  edges  of  the  eyelids, 
accompanied  sometimes  by  great  soreness,  and  considerable  ulcera- 
tion. It  bids  defiance  to  every  application,  except  the  mild  nitrated 
ointment  of  mercury,  ?.nd  occasionally  it  does  not  yield  even  to  that ; 
yet  on  the  approach  of  winter,  it  frequently  disappears  spontaneous- 


168  CATTLE. 


ly.  It  indicates  a  foul  habit  of  body,  and  is  often  connected  with 
mange ;  and  unless  proper  means  are  taken,  it  will  assuredly  return 
in  the  following  spring.  Purges  of  sulphur  will  be  found  useful  ; 
but  a  course  of  alterative  medicine  will  be  most  serviceable,  which 
should  consist  of  one  part  of  jEthiop's  mineral,  two  of  nitre,  and 
four  of  sulphur  ;  and  be  given  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce  every  night, 
according  to  age  and  size. 

Warts  on  the  eyelids  are  best  removed  by  the  scissors — the  root 
being  afterwards  touched  with  the  nitrate  of  silver. 

The  ox  has  a  contrivance  for  cleansing  the  eye  from  annoying  sub- 
stances. A  haw,  or  flat  piece  of  cartilage,  of  a  semicircular  form,  is 
placed  within  the  corner  of  the  eye.  When  its  use  is  required,  the 
eye  is  drawn  back  by  the  retractor  muscle,  and  the  mass  of  fat  at 
the  inner  side  of  the  eye  is  forced  forward,  and  drives  the  haw  be- 
fore it  over  the  eye.  When  the  retractor  ceases  to  act,  the  fatty 
substance  returns  to  its  place,  and  draws  back  the  haw  within  the 
corner  of  the  eye. 

This  part  of  the  eye  is  disposed  to  disease.  The  little  portion  of 
fleshy  substance  towards  the  inner  edge  of  the  cartilage,  and  the 
caruncle,  or  small  fleshy  body,  placed  at  the  corner  of  the  eye  to 
give  a  proper  direction  to  the  tears,  take  on  inflammation  from  sym- 
pathy with  the  eye  generally,  or  from  injury,  dust  or  gravel;  they 
swell  prodigiously,  and  the  haw  is  protruded  over  the  eye,  and  can- 
not return.  Ulceration  appears,  and  a  fungous  growth  springs  up. 
Every  means  should  be  adopted  to  save  the  haw,  for  the  removal  of 
it  will  torment  the  animal  as  long  as  he  lives. 

If  the  disease  is  connected  with  inflammation  of  the  eye  generally, 
all  will  subside  with  that  inflammation,  and  this  may  be  hastened 
by  the  application  of  a  Goulard  wash,  or  diluted  tincture  of  opium. 
If  it  is  a  disease  of  the  part  itself,  the  zinc  lotion  must  be  used  (two 
giains  of  w^hite  vitriol  dissolved  in  an  ounce  of  water,  and  the  vitriol 
gradually  increased  to  four  grains  ;  the  application  of  it  confined  as 
much  as  possible  to  the  part,  and  the  liquid  not  being  suflfered  to  get 
to  the  sound  part  of  the  eye.)  A  perseverance  in  the  use  of  the  zinc 
wash  will  often  do  wonders.  When  it  loses  its  power,  a  lotion  of 
corrosive  sublimate  may  be  adopted,  first  of  half  a  grain  to  an  ounce 
of  water,  and  gradually  increased  to  two  grains. 

If  it  becomes  necessary  to  extirpate  the  part,  the  beast  must  be 
cast ;  keep  open  the  eye  wMth  the  fingers ;  a  crooked  needle  armed 
with  strong  silk,  must  be  passed  through  the  cartilage,  by  means  of 
which  the  part  may  be  drawn  out  as  far  as  possible  ;  and  then,  with 
a  ])air  of  crooked  scissors,  the  haw  may  be  neatly  dissected  out.  If 
the  ulceration  extend  to  any  of  the  parts  behind,  or  to  the  neigh- 
boring tissues,  they  also  must  be  removed.  Considerable  bleeding 
will  probably  follow  the  oparation,  and  some  inflammation  of  the 
neighboring  parts  ;  but  they  must  be  subdued    by  proper  means. 


OPHTHALMIA. 


If  fungus  sprout,  it  must  be  touched  with  caustic  ;  there  is  little 
danger  attending  the  operation. 

The  eyelids  are  more  subject  to  disease  in  the  ox  than  in  any  oth- 
er domestic  animal.  If  any  foreign  body  gets  into  the  eye,  and  re- 
mains long  there,  the  eyelids  partake  of  the  irritation ;  become  hot 
and  tender,  and  much  thickened,  ai'd  will  continue  thickened  some- 
times after  the  inflammation  of  the  eye  has  subsided.  Fomentations 
will  be  proper  here.  Occasionally  there  is  oedematous  swelling  of 
the  eyelid,  especially  where  the  pasture  is  damp  and  marshy. 
These  enlargements  are  too  little  thought  of,  and  left  to  nature  to  re- 
lieve ;  but  they  indicate  a  degree  of  general  debiUty,  and  a  disposi- 
tion in  the  eyes  to  disease.  Many  old  c  ittle  have  eyelids  either  dis- 
tended W4th  fluid  infiltrated  into  the  cellular  texture,  or  from  which 
a  portion  of  the  fluid  had  been  removed  by  absorption,  but  a  deposit 
remained,  indicated  by  the  impression  of  the  finger  being  left  upon 
the  lid,  and  are  more  or  less  out  of  condition,  or  will  not  fatten 
kindly,  or  have  lately  had  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  or  w^ill  be  attacked 
by  it  soon  afterwards. 

A  curious  appearance — not  disease — has  been  observed  in  the  eye- 
lids of  fat  bullocks.  A  certain  portion  of  gas  has  been  iuifiltrated  into 
the  cellular  tissue.  If  this  is  a  dissight,  scarification  may  be  made 
on  the  lid,  and  the  gas  gradually  pressed  out. 

The  eye  of  the  ox  generally  is  large  and  flattish  ;  the  transparent 
cornea  is  quite  convex.  The  pupil  is  of  a  transverse  oblong  form ; 
and  the  iris  dark,  but  varying  with  the  color  of  the  animal. 

It  is  on  account  of  the  cornea  of  the  ox  being  so  convex,  and  the 
lens  also  more  than  usually  convex,  that  many  cattle  appear  to  be 
short-sighted,  at  least  while  they  are  young,  when  they  will  approach 
near  to  a  stranger,  before  they  appear  to  have  made  a  satisfactory 
examination  of  him. 

.  OPHTHALMIA. 

Ophthalmia  is  frequent  in  the  ox.  It  has  a  periodical  character, 
and  will  disappear  and  return  until  it  has  its  natural  termination — 
blindness.  The  cases  of  simple  ophthalmia,  however,  proceeding 
from  the  introduction  of  foreign  bodies  into  the  eyes,  blows,  or  being 
the  accompaniment  of  other  diseases,  and  then  yielding  to  medical 
treatment,  are  numerous  in  the  ox,  and,  therefore,  as  it  is  not  always 
possible  in  the  early  stage  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other,  the 
disease  may  be  attacked  with  more  confidence. 

The  means  of  cure  are  bleeding  and  physic,  as  the  constitutional 
treatment ;  and  fomentations,  cold  lotions — opium  in  tincture — sat- 
urnine lotions — zinc  lotions,  as  local  applications  ;  the  opium  duiing 
the  acute  stage,  the  lead  as  soon  as  the  inflammation  begins  to  sub- 
side, and  the  zinc  as  a  :omc,  when  the  inflammation  is  nearly  sub- 
dued. 


100  CATTLE. 


The  periodical  nature  of  the  disease  being  ;»nce  apparent,  send  the 
animal  to  the  butcher,  or  hasten  to  prepare  it  for  sale  ;  oj^hthahuia  is 
certainly  heieditary  in  cattle. 

To  combat  general  inflammation  of  the  eye,  bleeding,  physicking, 
and  fomentations  are  tlie  principal  weapons.  'I'he  blood  should  be 
taken  from  the  jugular,  for  that  is  supplied  by  veins  coming  from 
the  inflamed  parts.  If  the  bleeding  is  ever  local,  the  lid  should  be 
turned  down,  and  the  lining  membrane  lightly  scarified.  A  few  drops 
of  blood  thus  obtained  will  often  do  a  great  deal  of  good.  Fomen- 
tations having  been  continued  for  a  day  or  two,  one  of  the  two  fol- 
lowinor  lotions  should  be  used,  a  few  drops  of  it  being  introduced 
into  the  eye  two  or  three  times  every  day  : 

Sedative  Eye  Lotion. — Take,  dried  leaves  of  foxglove,  powdered, 
one  and  a  half  ounce  :  infuse  them  into  a  pint  of  Cape  or  dry  raisin 
wine,  for  a  fortnight,  and  keep  the  infusion  for  use. 

There  cannot  be  a  better  sedative  in  thp  early  stage  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  eyes. 

In  many  cases  this  alone  will  effect  the  temporary  or  perfect  re^ 
moval  of  the  inflammation  ;  but  should  the  eye  not  improve,  or  be- 
come insensible  to  the  tincture,  try  this : 

Sedative  Eye  Lotion. — Take,  extract  of  goulard,  two  drachms  ; 
spirituous  tincture  of  digitalis  (made  in  the  same  manner  as  the  vinous 
in  the  last  recipe),  two  drachms;  tincture  of  opium,  two  draclinis  ; 
water,  a  pint:  this  should  also  be  introduced  into  the  eye.  Ti^d  or 
three  drops  at  a  time  will  sufiice. 

The  inflammation  being  subdued  by  the  one  or  tlie  other  of  these 
applications,  or  even  bidding  defiance  to  them,  and  assuming  a  chron- 
ic form,  a  lotion  of  a  different  character  must  be  had  recourse  to. 

Strengthening  Lotion  for  the  Eye. — Take,  white  vitriol,  one  scru- 
ple ;  spirit  of  wine,  a  drachm;  water,  a  pint:  mix  them  together, 
and  use  the  lotion  in  the  same  manner  as  the  others. 

When  the  inflammation  runs  high,  the  transparent  part  of  the 
eye  is  apt  to  ulcerate,  and  a  funo-ous  substance  sprouts,  and  some- 
times protrudes  through  the  lids.  This  should  be  very  lightly 
touched  with  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  or,  if  it  is  very  promi- 
nent, it  should  be  cut  ofl",  and  the  base  of  it  touched  with  the 
caustic. 

A  seton  in  the  dewlap  will  always  be  beneficial  in  inflammation  of 
the  eye,  and  it  should  either  be  made  of  the  black  hellebore  root,  or 
a  chord  well  soaked  in  turpentine. 

Of  one  circumstance  the  breeder  of  cattle  should  be  aware — that 
blindness  is  an  hereditary  disease,  and  that  the  progeny  of  a  bull 
that  has  any  defect  of  sight  is  very  apt  to  become  blind. 

If  the  case  is  neglected,  inflammation  of  the  eye  will  sometimes 
run  on  to  cancer,  and  not  only  the  eye,  but  the  soft  parts  around  il, 
and  even  the  bones,  will  be  affected. 


OTHER  DISEASES  CF  THE  EYE.  161 

When  this  terminatior.  threatens,  the  globe  of  the  eye  will  usually 
turn  to  a  bottle-green  color,  then  ulceration  will  appear  about  the 
centre  of  it,  and  the  eye  will  become  of  three  or  four  times  its 
natural  size,  or  it  will  gradually  diminish  and  sink  into  the   orbit. 

The  fluid  discharged  from  it  will  be  so  acrid  that  it  will  excoriate 
the  parts  over  which  it  runs,  and  the  hds  will  become  swollen  and 
ulcerated. 

The  most  humane  method  to  be  adopted  with  regard  to  the  an'- 
mal,  is  to  remove  the  eye.  If  the  owner  does  not  think  proper  to 
adopt  this,  let  him  try  to  make  the  beast  as  comfortable  as  he  can. 
The  part  should  be  kept  clean,  and  whi^n  there  appears  to  be  any 
additional  inflammation,  or  swelling,  or  pain,  the  eye  should  be  well 
fomented  with  a  decoction  of  poppy-heads. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  cure  is  easily  efi'ected,  when  the 
case  is  taken  in  time  ;  commence  with  a  few  doses  of  aconitum, 
which  is  to  be  employed  at  first  from  hour  to  hour  ;  then  at  longer 
intervals.  Resort  afterwards  to  arnica.  If  it  be  too  late,  conium 
must  be  given,  which  is  also  indicated  when  aconitum  and  arnica 
have  removed  the  inflammatory  symptoms,  but  there  is  an  exudation 
between  the  laminae  of  the  cornea.  Cannabis,  belladonna,  or  euphra- 
sia,  in  two  ounces  of  distilled  water,  form  an  excellent  topical  appli- 
cation ;  but  they  should  also  be  used  internally.  If  the  ophthalmia 
has  been  occasioned  by  a  foreign  body  in  the  eye,  it  calls  for  a  dif- 
ferent treatment.  Extract  the  foreign  body  with  a  bit  of  moistened 
linen  ;  conium  then  removes  the  symptoms,  and  if  there  have  been 
any  injury,  arnica  should  be  prescribed,  both  externally  and  inter- 
nally. Ophthalmia  caused  by  cold  soon  yields  to  aconitum,  hryonia^ 
dulcamara,  and  euphrasia. 

When  the  disease  proceeds  from  an  internal  cause  and  is  peri- 
odical, it  is  hereditary,  or  depends  on  the  deposition  on  the  eye  of 
a  morbific  principle  difficult  to  be  determined.  The  chief  means 
to  be  employed  are  sulphur,  euphrasia,  pulsatilla,  cannabis,  conium, 
and  causticum.  Belladona  might  also  be  tiied.  Calcarei  carbonica 
is  useful  in  the  case  of  turbid  vision  with  a  bluish  tint  of  the  cornea 
— the  lids  not  being  aff'ected. 

OTHER  DISEASES   OF  THE  EYE. 

There  is  a  singular  disease  of  the  eye,  not  properly  ophthalmia, 
sometimes  epizootic  among  cattle,  that  sadly  frightens  the  owner 
when  it  first  appeal's.  Young  cattle  pasturing  on  wet  and  woody 
ground  are  suddenly  seized  with  swellings  of  the  tongue  and  throat, 
and  eruptions  about  the  membrane  of  the  mouth,  and  the  eyes  be- 
come intensely  inflamed,  and  superficial  ulcers  appear  on  the  cornea. 
This  is  only  one  of  nature's  methods,  singular  indeed,  of  getting  rid 
of  something  that  off'ended  the  constitution  ;  and  tl:e  way  is  to  let 
iier  nearly  alone.     The  skillful  practitioner  foments  with  warm  water, 


CATTLE. 


or,  if  the  eyes  are  closed,  applies  an  evaporating  lotion  of  cold  water, 
with  a  little  spirit,  and  possibly  gives  gentle  physic ;  and  he  soon 
has  the  satisfaction  to  see  ihe  inflammation  disappearing,  and  the 
ulcers  gradually  healing,  which  he  hastens  by  a  veiy  weak  zinc  w^ash. 

The  ox  is  subject  to  Cataract,  but  it  is  not  often  seen,  because 
periodical  ophthalmia  is  not  frequent  in  him  ;  as  soon  as  its  existence 
is  ascertained,  the  animal  should  be  prepared  for  slaughter. 

GuTTA  SERENA,  or  palsy  of  the  optic  nerve — blindness  in  one  or 
both  eyes,  yet  the  perfect  transparency  of  the  eye  preserved — is  a 
rare  disease  among  cattle  ;  it  is  no  sooner  recognized  than  the  beast 
is  destroyed. 

Cancer  of  the  eye,  or  a  perfect  change  of  the  mechanism  of  the 
eye  into  a  fleshy,  half-decomposed  substance,  that  ulcerates  and  wastes 
away,  or  from  which  fungous  growths  spring  that  can  never  be 
checked,  is  a  disease  of  occasional  occurrence.  The  remedy  would 
be  extirpation  of  the  eye,  if  it  were  deemed  worth  while  to  attempt  it. 

There  is  a  very  curious  disease  of  the  eye.  The  common  symp- 
toms of  ophthalmia  appear,  as  injection  of  the  conjunctiva,  dimness  of 
the  cornea,  weeping,  and  swelling  of  the  lids ;  the  inflammation 
increases  ;  and,  on  close  examination,  a  small  white  W'Orm,  about  the 
size  of  a  hair,  and  an  inch  in  length,  is  found  in  the  aqueous  humor, 
that  fluid  which  is  immediately  behind  the  cornea.  It  is  evident  that 
the  only  way  to  get  rid  of,  or  destroy  this  w^orm,  is  to  puncture  the 
cornea,  and  let  it  out ;  and  this  has  been  resorted  to.  In  some  cases, 
however,  not  many  days  pass  before  another  worm  makes  its  appear- 
ance, and  the  operation  is  to  be  performed  a  second  time,  and  the  ox 
eventually  loses  that  eye.  Three  or  four  days  before  the  appearance 
of  the  worms,  one  or  two  minute  bodies,  of  a  reddish-white  color,  are 
seen  at  the  bottom  of  the  anterior  chamber  of  the  eye.  The  disease 
appears  about  June,  and  is  not  seen  after  December. 

FRACTURE    OF    THE    SKULL. 

One  class  of  the  diseases  of  the  head  to  which  cattle  are  exposed 
will  fall  under  the  title  of  compression  of,  or  pressure  upon,  the  brain. 
Although  it  is  a  curious  fact,  that  portions  of  the  external  or  cineritious 
part  of  the  brain  may  be  cut  away  without  the  animal  being  conscious 
of  it,  yet  the  slightest  pressure  cannot  be  made  upon  -the  brain  with- 
out impairment  of  consciousness,  or  loss  of  the  power  of  voluntary 
motion. 

'I'he  very  construction  of  the  skull  of  the  ox,  w^hich  gives  a  degree 
of  security  from  ordinary  danger,  deprives  us  of  all  means  of  relief, 
in  case  of  compression  of  the  brain  from  fracture,  and  therefore  the 
animal  should  always  be  consigned  to  slaughter. 

HYDATIDS    AND    TUMORS    IN    THE    BRAIN. 

Cattle  are  subject  to  a  disease  in  which  the  animal  goes  round  and 


WATER  IN  THE  HEAD.  165 

round.  First,  some  degree  of  fever  comes  on — she  perhaps  scarcely 
eats — rumination  is  suspended — the  muzzle  dry — the  ears  and  roots 
of  the  horns  hot — the  breathing  laborious,  and  the  hair  rough.  It  is 
fever  without  any  evident  local  determination.  Perhaps  she  is  bled 
and  physicked  ;  but  on  the  following  day,  the  thing  begins  to  speak 
for  itself ;  she  turns  round  and  round,  and  always  in  the  same  direc- 
tion :  it  is  pressure  upon  the  brain  ;  no  operation  can  relieve  such  an 
animal  from  the  hydatid.  But  is  the  pressure  of  the  hydatid  the 
only  one  that  can  affect  the  brain,  or  produce  this  peculiar  motion  ? 
Would  not  effusion  of  blood,  or  of  any  fluid,  on  some  portion  of  the 
brain,  produce  the  same  effect  ?  There  may  have  been  a  too  great 
determination  of  blood  to  the  head,  and  some  little  vessel  may  have 
given  way.  It  is  worth  trying  for  a  day  or  two  at  least,  and  the 
cow  will  not  be  much  the  worse  for  slaughter  in  that  time.  She 
should  be  bled  copiously ;  and  a  stronger  dose  of  physic  be  given. 
In  some  instances,  perhaps  in  the  majority,  the  animal  will  do  well. 
A  spare  diet  at  the  time,  and  a  while  afterwards,  will  be  plainly 
indicated.     Success  will  not,  however,  attend  every  case. 

It  is  a  disease  peculiar  to  young  cattle.  It  seldom  attacks  any 
beast  after  he  is  a  year  and  a  half  old. 

Veterinary  writers,  in  those  countries  where  the  hydatid  in  cattle 
is  known,  very  properly  remark  that  it  may  be  discovered  in  young 
stock,  by  the  softening  of  the  bone  at  a  particular  part ;  because  the 
frontal  sinuses  are  not  fully  developed  in  young  beasts.  The  hydatid 
may  then  be  punctuated  with  an  awl,  or  better  with  the  trephine  ; 
but  we  recommend  that  young  cattle  thus  affected  should  be  imme- 
diately destroyed. 

WATER    IN    THE    HEAD. 

There  is  another  species  of  pressure  on  the  brain,  to  which  young 
cattle  are  subject,  and  sometimes  even  in  the  foetal  state — hydroce- 
phalus, or  water  in  the  head.  'I  he  fluid  is  usually  found  between 
the  membranes,  and  exists  in  so  great  a  quantity,  and  enlarges  the 
head  to  such  a  degree,  that  parturition  is  difficult  and  dangerous  ; 
and  it  is  often  necessary  to  destroy  the  progeny  to  save  the  mother. 

We  have  seen  hydrocephalus  appear  after  birth  in  very  weakly 
calves ;  but  do  not  recollect  an  instance  in  a  healthy  one  ;  and  in 
almost  every  case  it  has  been  fatal :  therefore  such  an  animal  should 
be  put  to  death. 

In  the  adult  animal,  the  pressure  of  a  fluid  on  the  brain  will 
occasionally  be  a  source  of  general  disease,  or  death  :  but  it  will  then 
be  an  accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  ventricles  of  the  brain,  and  not 
indicated  by  any  change  in  the  size  or  form  of  the  skull.  The  symp- 
toms will  very  much  resemble  those  of  apoplexy,  except  that  they 
are  milder,  and  the  malady  is  slower  in  progress — and  the  network 
of  minute  arteries  and  veins  in  the  ventricles  are  usually  considerably 
enlarged. 


164  CATTLE. 


APOPLEXY. 

Cattle  are  very  subject  to  sudden  determination  of  blood  to  the 
head.  Tliey  are  naturally  pletlioric  ;  are  continually  under  the  in- 
fluence of  a  stimulating  and  forcing  system  ;  and  that  without  exer- 
cise by  means  of  which  the  injurious  effects  of  that  system  might  in 
a  great  measure  be  counteracted.  The  very  object  in  our  manage- 
ment of  the  ox,  is  to  clothe  him  with  as  much  flesh  and  fat  as  possi- 
ble ;  therefore  he  is  subject  to  all  the  diseases  connected  with  a 
redundancy  of  blood,  and  to  apoplexy  among  the  rest. 

There  are  few  premonitory  symptons  in  these  cases.  Had  the 
beast  been  closely  observed,  it  might  have  been  perceived  that  he 
was  indisposed  to  move — that  the  breathing  was  a  little  laborious, 
and  the  eye  somewhat  protruded.  The  arihnal  seems  to  be  struck  nil 
at  once — he  falls — breathes  heavily  and  stertorously — strugules  Avith 
greater  or  less  violence,  and  then  dies — sometimes  in  five  minutes — 
oftener  after  a  few  hours. 

If  there  is  time  to  do  any  thing,  the  beast  should  be  bled,  and  as 
much  blood  taken  as  can  be  got.  A  pound  and  a  half  of  Epsom 
salts  should  be  given,  and  this  followed  up  with  doses  of  half  a 
pound  until  it  operates  ;  its  action  should  afterwards  be  maintained 
by  six-ounce  doses  of  sulphur  every  morning. 

The  conorestion  of  the  brain  beino-  removed,  and  also  the  consfes- 
tion  which,  to  a  certain  degree,  prevails  everywhere,  the  beast  should 
be  slaughtered  ;  for  he  is  liable  to  a  return  from  causes  which  would 
not,  previous  to  his  first  attack,  have  in  the  slightest  degree  aflected 
him. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — As  soon  as  the  precursory  symptoms  are 
perceived,  a  few  doses  of  aconitum  are  given,  which  has  been  found 
a  sure  means  of  preventing  a  fatal  termination,  especially  if  the  beast 
be  fed  moderately,  employed  properly,  and  not  worked  too  severely 
during  hot  weather.  Arnica,  belladonna,  nux  vomica,  and  laurocerasus 
may  also  be  used  in  the  premonitory  symptoms  with  good  effect ;  also 
mercurius  and  opium. 

PHRENITIS. 

Phrensy  or  sough  in  cattle  is  ^-ell  known  to  the  farmer  and  prac- 
titioner. There  is  generally,  at  first,  much  oppression  and  heaviness ; 
the  animal  can  scarcely  be  induced  ^o  move  ;  the  eyes  are  protruded 
and  red  ;  the  respiration  hurried  ;  and  delirium,  more  or  less  intense, 
rapidly  succeeds.  The  beast  rushes  at  everything  in  its  way  ;  it  is 
in  incessant  action,  galloping  about  with  its  tail  arched,  staggering, 
faUing,  bellowing  ;  its  skin  sticking  to  its  ribs,  and  the  sensibility  of 
the  spine  strangely  increased. 

As,  however,  the  pievious  oppression  and  stupidity  were  much 
less,  so  is  the  succeeding  violence  increased  ;  not  even  a  rabid  ox  is 


PHRENITIS.  165 


more  fearful,  and  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  distinguish  between 
these  two  diseases.  In  the  early  stage  of  phrenitis,  although  there 
may  be  lowness  or  oppression,  there  is  nothing  like  apoplexy,  or  want 
of  consciousness.  There  is  more  method  in  the  madness  of  the  rabid 
than  the  phrenitic  ox.  The  latter  will  run  at  everything  which 
presents  itself,  but  it  is  a  sudden  impulse  ;  the  former  will  plot  mis- 
3hief,  and  lure  his  victim.s  within  his  reach.  Much  more  foam  will  be 
discharged  from  the  mouth  of  the  rabid  than  the  phrenitic  ox. 

The  causes  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  apoplexy,  too  stimulat- 
ing food,  and  too  much  blood  ;  to  which  may  generally  be  added 
some  immediately  exciting  cause,  as  hard  and  rapid  work  in  sultry 
weather,  over-driving,  (fee. 

As  to  the  treatment  of  phrenitis  there  is  some  difficulty.  If  the 
beast  can  be  approached  during  a  momentary  remission  of  the  symp- 
toms, bleeding  should  be  attempted,  and  if  a  vein  be  opened,  it  should 
bleed  on  as  long  as  it  will.  Physic,  if  it  can,  should  be  given. 
Sometimes  the  beast  has  insatiable  thirst,  and  may  be  cheated  with 
water  in  which  Epsom  salts  have  been  dissolved.  A  scruple  or  half 
a  drachm  of  farina  of  the  Croton  nut  may  be  administered,  mixed 
with  gruel.  All  other  medicines  are  out  of  the  question.  If  bleeding 
and  physic  will  not  save,  nothing  will.  Use  should  be  made  of  any 
temporary  respite  to  confine  the  animal,  or  to  get  him  into  some 
place  where  he  cannot  do  harm  to  himself  or  to  any  one. 

The  phrensy  being  subdued,  the  next  consideration  is,  w^hat  is  to 
be  done  with  the  beast.  No  more  dependence  can  be  placed  on  him 
than  on  one  recovered  from  apoplexy.  Purging  should  be  continued 
to  a  moderate  degree,  and  fever  medicine  given  to  abate  circulation  ; 
and  when  the  congested  blood  is  Avell  out  of  the  system,  and  the  flesh 
has  become  healthy,  the  sooner  the  animal  is  disposed  of  the  better. 

The  neck  vein  should  be  opened,  on  each  side,  if  possible,  and  the 
blood  should  be  suffered  to  flow  until  the  animal  drops.  It  is  absurd 
to  talk  of  quantities  here  ;  as  much  should  be  taken  as  can  be  got,  — 
at  least,  the  blood  should  flow  until  the  violence  of  the  symptoms  is 
quite  abated. 

To  this  a  dose  of  physic  should  follow.  The  following  may  be 
administered  : — 

A  Strong  Physic  Drink. — Take  Epsom  or  Glauber's  salts,  half  a 
pound  ;  the  kernel  of  the  Croton  nut,  ter  grains ;  take  off  the  shell  of 
the  Croton  nut,  and  weigh  the  proper  quantity  of  the  kernel.  Rub  it 
down  to  a  fine  powder;  gradually  mix  it  with  half  a  pint  of  thick 
gruel,  and  give  it,  and  immediately  afterward  give  the  salts,  dissolved 
in  a  pint  and  a  half  of  thinner  gruel. 

If  the  violence  or  even  the  wandering  should  remain,  another 
bleeding  should  take  place  six  hours  afterwards,  and  this  also  until 
the  pulse  falters  ;  and  tlie  purging  should  be  kept  up. 

Although  it  is  very  difficult  to  produce  a  blister  on  the  thick  skin 


CATTLE. 


of  the  OX,  it  should  be  attempted  if  the  disease  doe?  not  speedily 
subside.  The  hair  should  be  closely  cut  or  shaved  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  forehead  and  the  poll,  ;.nd  for  six  inches  on  each  side 
down  the  neck,  and  sonrie  of  the  following  ointment  well  rubbed  in  : — 
Blister  Ointment. — Take,  lard,  twelve  ounces;  resin,  four  ounces; 
melt  them  together,  and,  when  they  are  getting  cold,  add  oil  of  tur- 
pentine, four  ounces  ;  and  powdered  cantharides,  five  ounces  ;  stirring 
the  whole  well  together. 

When  the  blister  is  beginning  to  peel  off,  green  elder  or  marsh- 
mallow  ointment  will  be  the  best  application  to  supple  and  hea'  the 
part.  A  little  of  it  should  be  gently  smeared  over  the  blistered  sur- 
face, morning  and  night. 

A  seton  smeared  with  the  above  ointment  may  be  inserted  on  each 
side  of  the  poll,  in  preference  to  the  application  of  a  bUster. 

Although  the  violence  of  the  disease,  and  of  its  remedies,  will 
necessarily  leave  the  beast  exceedingly  reduced,  no  stimulating 
medicine  or  food  must  on  any  account  be  administered.  Mashes  and 
green  meat,  and  these  in  no  great  quantities,  must  suffice  for  nourish- 
ment, or,  if  the  animal,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  is  unable  to  eat,  a 
few  quarts  of  tolerably  thick  gruel  may  be  horned  down  every  day  ; 
but  ale,  and  gin,  and  spices,  and  tonic  medicines,  must  be  avoided  as 
downright  poisons.  There  is  not  a  more  common  or  a  more  fatal 
error  in  cattle  management  than  the  eagerness  to  pour  in  comfortable, 
one  might  rather  say,  poisonous  drinks.  Even  the  treacle  and  the 
sugar  in  the  gruel  must  be  prohibited,  from  their  tendency  to  become 
acid  in  the  debilitated  stomach  of  the  animal  recovering  from  such  a 
complaint. 

Every  symptom  of  the  disease  having  vanished,  the  beast  may  very 
sloioly  return  to  his  usual  food  ;  but,  when  he  is  turned  to  pasture, 
it  will  be  prudent  to  give  him  a  very  short  bite  of  grass,  and  little  or 
no  dry  food.  Nature  is  the  best  restorer  of  health  and  strength  in 
these  cases  ;  and  it  is  often  surprising,  not  only  how  rapidly  the  ox 
will  regain  all  he  has  lost,  if  left  to  nature,  and  not  foolishly  forced 
on,  but  how  soon  and  to  what  a  considerable  degree  his  condition 
will  improve  beyond  the  state  in  which  he  was  before  the  complaint, 
'i'he  ox  that  has  once  had  inflammation  of  the  brain  should  ever 
afterwards  be  watched,  and  should  be  bled  and  physicked  whenever 
there  is  tlie  least  appearance  of  staggers  or  fever.  The  safest  way  will 
be  to  send  him  to  the  butcher  as  soon  as  he  is  in  sufficient  condition, 
Homceopathic  treatment. — Aconitum  is  the  first  and  chief  remedy, 
before  the  disease  is  yet  fully  developed.  It  is  given  in  frequent 
doses,  separated  by  short  intervals.  When  there  is  heat  in  the  mouth, 
eyes,  horns,  jmd  the  animal  rests  its  head  against  the  wall  or  manger  ; 
or  when,  melancholy  and  almost  devoid  of  consciousness,  it  allows  it 
to  hang  ;  the  best  medicine  is  belladonna,  to  be  given  in  repeated 
doses,  especially  when  the  look  is  fmniic,  with  swelling  of  the  vessels 


TETANUS,  OR  LOCKED  JAW.  167 

of  the  head  and  pulsation  of  those  of  the  neck.  Sulphur  should  be 
given  as  consecutive  treatment.  Hijoscyamus  is  indicated,  moi-e 
especially  when  helladonna  does  n^'!;  suffice.  If  there  be  suddenly  a 
calm,  stupor,  or  somnolence,  or  if  the  disease  has  been  occasioned  by 
insolation,  opium  is  to  be  prescribed  without  delay.  Veratrum  is 
indicated  when  the  animal  throws  itself  about  and  places  itself  agamst 
the  wall. 

Sometimes  the  disease  does  not  run  its  full  course.  There  is  but 
a  slight  degree  of  inflammation,  or  theie  may  be  sudden  determmacion 
or  flow  of  blood  to  the  head,  from  some  occasional  cause,  and  witiiout 
inflammation.     This  is  known  by  the  name  of 

STAGGERS  ;    OR,    SWIMMING    IN    THE    HEAD. 

The  symptoms  are  heaviness  and  dullness;  a  constant  disposition 
to  sleep,  which  is  manifested  by  the  beast  resting  its  head  \jfwfx  any 
convenient  place  ;  and  he  reels  or  staggers  when  he  attempts  lo  >valk. 
If  this  disease  be  not  checked  by  bleeding,  purging,  and  proper  man- 
agement, it  will  probably  terminate  in  inflammation  of  the  Drain  or 
inflammatory  fever. 

It  mostly  attacks  those  cattle  that  have  been  kept  in  a  state  of 
poverty  and  starvation  during  the  winter  season,  and  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  have  been  admitted  into  too  fertile  a  pasture  :  hence  is 
produced  a  redundancy  of  blood  in  the  system,  which,  on  the  slight- 
est disturbance,  or  even  naturally,  gives  rise  to  the  disease. 

The  cure  must  be  attempted  by  taking  four,  five,  or  six  quarts  of 
blood  from  the  animal,  according  to  its  size  and  strength  ;  purging 
drink  must  then  be  administered,  and  continued  in  half-doses  every 
eight  hours,  until  the  full  purgative  eff'ect  is  produced.  If  the  animal 
be  not  relieved  in  the  course  of  tv/o  hours  from  the  first  bleeding,  the 
operation  must  be  repeated  to  the  same  extent,  unless  the  beast 
should  become  faint ;  and  the  bowels  must  be  kept  in  a  loose  or 
rather  purging  state.  As  soon  as  the  bowels  are  opened,  the  fever 
drink  should  be  jiven,  morning,  noon,  and  night,  until  the  patient  is 
well.  Nothing  more  than  a  very  little  mash  should  be  allowed,  and 
all  cordials  should  be  avoided  as  absolutely  destructive  to  the  beast. 
When  the  animal  appears  to  be  doing  well,  he  must  return  very 
slowly  to  his  usual  food ;  a  seton  should  be  put  in  the  dewlap,  and 
occasional  doses  of  Epsom  salts  given. 

Homceopathic  treatment. — Belladonna  is  particularly  useful  at  the 
onset  of  the  disease  ;  two  or  three  doses  are  to  be  taken  daily,  until 
the  symptoms  have  disappeared,  after  which  the  doses  are  to  be  given 
at  longer  intervals,  and  the  treatment  terminated  with  sulphur. 

TETANUS,    OR    LOCKED    JAW. 

The  nerves  proceeding  from  the  spinal  chord  are  of  two  kinds, 
those  by  which  the  power  of  voluntary  motion  is  conveyed  to  the 


168  CATTLE. 


limbs,  and  those  by  which  the  impressions  of  surrounding  objects  arc 
conveyed  to  the  mind.  Fir.st,  of  the  diseases  of  the  nerves  of  motion. 
There' is  a  fluid  or  influence  conveyed  from  the  brain,  through  the 
medium  of  the  spinal  chord,  to  the  various  parts  of  the  body,  by 
means  of  which  those  parts  are  moved.  In  health  that  influence  is 
communicated  in  a  uniform  succession  of  undulations,  or  pulses.  In 
disease,  it  may  rush  on  violently  and  without  interruption ;  if  that  be 
only  partial  to  a  single  muscle,  or  one  set  of  muscles,  the  animal  is 
said  to  be  cramped  ;  if  this  violent  and  uninterrupted  action  extend 
over  the  frame,  he  labors  under  tetanus  ;  if  the  stream  of  influence 
be  rapid  and  strong,  but  there  are  suspensions,  he  has  fits  ;  and  if  the 
nervous  influence  be  altogether  withheld,  there  is  palsy. 

Tetanus  is  not  frequent  in  cattle,  but  it  is  seldom  that  a  beast 
recovers  from  it.  Its  approach  is  rarely  observed  until  the  mischief 
is  done.  The  animal  is  off  its  food,  ceases  to  ruminate,  is  disinclined 
to  move,  and  stands  with  its  head  protruded,  but  there  is  no  dryness 
of  the  muzzle,  or  heat  of  the  horn,  or  coldness  of  the  ears.  The  next 
day  the  beast  is  in  same  state  ;  has  scarcely  moved,  and  is  straddling 
behind,  can  scarcely  be  induced  to  alter  his  position,  and,  if  made  to 
turn,  turns  all  together.  It  is  found  that  the  jaw  is  locked  ;  a  dis- 
covery which  might  have  been  made  two  or  three  days  before,  when 
the  ox  might  have  been  saved. 

Working  cattle  are  most  subject  to  tetanus,  because  they  may  be 
pricked  inlhoeing  ;  and  because,  after  a  hard  day's  work,  covered  with 
perswration,  they  are  sometimes  turned  out  to  graze  dunng  a  cold 
and  wet  nio-ht.     Overdriving  is  a  common  cause  of  tetanus. 

The  treatment  must  be  the  promptest ;  bleed  until  the  pulse 
falters,  or  rather  until  the  patient  blows,  staggers,  and  threatens  to 
fall.  There  is  nothing  so  likely  to  relax  spasm  of  every  kind,  and 
even  this  excessive  and  universal  one,  as  bleeding  almost  to  fainting. 
Twenty,  and  even  twenty-four  pounds  have  been  taken,  before  the 
desired  eff"ect  was  produced,  and  those  cases  oftenest  do  well,  when 
the  constitution  resists  the  bleeding  long,  and  then  gives  way. 

One  eff"ect,  not  always  lasting  enough,  follows  the  bleeding  ;^  the 
spasm  is  somewhat  relaxed,  and  the  jaws  can  be  opened  a  little. 
Advantage  must  be  immediately  taken  of  this  to  pour  in  a  dose  of 
physic.  That  which  is  most  active,  and  lies  in  the  smallest  compass, 
is  the  best ;  and  half  a  drachm,  or  two  scruples  of  farina  of  the  Croton 
nut  should  be  given  in  gruel,  w4th,  if  it  can  be  administered,  or  as 
soon  as  it  can,  a  pound  or  a  pound  and  a  half  of  Epsom  salts  in 
solution.  This  must  be  followed  up  until  the  bowels  are  well  opened. 
All  other  means  will  be  thrown  away  until  brisk  purging  is  produced. 
There  is  sometimes  a  great  difficulty  in  this.  The  direction  which  a 
fluid  takes,  or  the  stomach  into  which  it  goes,  is  uncertain.  It  may 
pass  on  at  once  through  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs,  and  produce 
its  effects  on  the  bowels ;  or  it  may  accumulate  in  the  paunch,  with- 


TETANUS,  OR  LUCKED  JAW.  189 


out  any  effect.  The  manner  in  which  it  is  given  may  have  some 
influence.  If  there  be  great  liurry  to  take  advantage  of  the  relaxation 
of  the  spasm,  and  pour  down  the  whole  drink  quickly,  in  one  body, 
it  is  very  likely  to  find  its  way  into  the  paunch.  Jf  the  medicine  be 
given  a  little  at  a  time,  or  suffered  to  run  gently  down  the  throat,  it 
will  probably  flow  into  the  fourth  stomach  and  the  intestinal  canal. 

Tlie  hoicels  must  he  opened.  After  the  first  dose  of  Epsom  salts 
and  Croton  farina,  half-pound  doses  of  salts  should  be  given  every 
six  hours  until  the  desired  effect  is  produced  ;  but  after  the  first  day, 
the  Epsom  salts  may  be  changed  with  advantage  for  common  salt. 
Injections  should  be  administered  every  third  hour,  (four  or  six 
quarts  at  least,)  and  in  each  half  a  pound  of  Epsom  salts  should  be 
dissolved.  If  four  or  six  doses  of  medicine  have  been  given,  and  the 
animal  continues  constipated,  the  pulse,  ear,  and  horn  should  be 
examined  as  to  the  degree  of  fever  ;  and  if  any  is  indicated,  and  if 
the  pulse  does  not  plainly  denote  debility,  a  second  bleeding  must  be 
resorted  to,  and  carried  on  until  the  circulation  is  evidently  affected. 

If  the  animal  still  remains  constipated,  the  physic  is  accumulated 
in  the  paunch;  and  that  stomach  is  not  disposed  to  act.  Strong 
doses  of  aromatics  and  tonics  must  now  be  added  to  the  physic,  to 
rouse  the  paunch  to  the  expulsion  of  its  contents,  and  should  that 
fai!.  rt-course  must  be  had  to  the  stomach  pump.  The  oesophao-us- 
tube  must  be  introduced  into  the  gullet,  and  carried  down  into  the 
rumen,  and  warm  water  must  be  pumped  in  until  that  stomach  over- 
flows ;  and  then  the  contents  will  either  be  vomited,  or  pass  through 
the  third  into  the  fourth  stomach,  and  so  into  the  intestines,  and  the 
purgative  effect  will  follow.  This  instrument  is  invaluable ;  and 
on  the  smallest  farm,  would  soon  repay  the  expense. 

Purging  being  established,  an  attempt  must  be  made  to  allay  the 
irritability  of  the  nervous  system  by  sedatives  ;  and  the  best  drug, 
and  the  mainly  effectual  one,  is  opium.  The  crude  opium  dissolved  in 
warm  water,  and  suspended  by  means  of  dissolved  gum  or  the  yolk 
of  an  Q^g,  will  be  the  preferable  form  in  which  to  give  it.  The  dose 
should  be  a  drachm  three  times  every  day,  and  increased  to  a  drachm 
and  a  half  on  the  third  day,  if  the  effect  of  the  smaller  dose  be  not 
evident.  At  the  same  time  the  action  of  the  bowels  must  be  kept 
up  by  Epsom  salts,  common  salt,  or  sulphur,  and  the  proportions  of 
the  purgative  and  the  sedative  must  be  such  that  the  constitution 
shall  be  under  the  influence  of  both.  It  may  be  necessary  to  suspend 
the  sedative  for  a  dose  or  for  a  day,  when  costiveness  threatens.  The 
animal  should  be  supported  by  mashes,  which  it  will  sometimes  eat, 
or  at  least  suck  the  moisture  from  ;  and  as  soon  as  there  is  any 
remission  of  the  spasm,  the  beast  may  be  turned  in  a  field  near  at 
hand  dm-ing  the  day,  and  taken  up  at  night. 

A  seton  of  black  hellebore  root  in  the  dewlap  may  be  of  service. 
It  is  introduced  into  a  part  not  under  the  influence  of  the  disease, 
8 


170  CATTLE. 

and  it  often  causes  a  great  deal  of  inflMmraation  and  swelling.  The 
back  and  the  loins  may  be  coveied  with  sheepskins,  frequently  chano-ed, 
to  excite  constant  perspiration,  and  produce  relaxation  in  the  part 
principally  attacked :  but  the  chief  dependence  should  be  on  the 
copious  bleeding  at  first ;  a  recurrence  to  it  if  the  spasm  becomes 
more  violent,  or  fever  appears  ;  and  the  joint  influence  of  the  sedatives 
and  purging. 

If  the  disease  terminates  successfully,  the  beast  will  be  sadly  out 
of  condition,  and  will  not  thrive  very  rapidly,  He  must  be  got  into 
fair  plight,  as  quickly  as  prudence  will  allow  ;  and  then  slaughtered  ; 
for  he  will  rarely  stand  work  afterwards,  or  carry  much  flesh. 

Strong  Fhf/sic  Drink  for  Locked  Jaw. — Take  Barbadoes  aloes, 
one  ounce  and  a  lialf;  the  kernel  of  the  Croton  nut,  powdered,  ten 
grains.  Dissolve  them  in  as  small  a  quantity  as  possible  of  boihng 
water,  and  give  when  sufficiently  cool. 

Generally  the  jaw  will  be  now  sufficiently  relaxed  to  permit  the 
introduction  of  the  thin  neck  of  a  claret  bottle  into  the  mouth.  The 
best  method,  however,  of  giving  medicine  in  this  case  is  by  the  assist- 
ance of  Read's  patent  pump,  the  pipe  of  which,  let  the  jaws  be 
fixed  as  firmly  as  they  may,  can  generally  be  introduced,  close  to  and 
immediately  before  the  grinders. 

Anodyne  Drink  for  Locked  Jaio. — Take  camphor,  one  drachm,  rub 
it  dowMi  in  an  ounce  of  spirits  of  wine  ;  to  this  add  powdered  opium, 
one  drachm,  and  give  the  mixture  in  a  small  quantity  of  thick  gruel. 

This  medicine  should  be  administered  three  or  four  times  every 
day ;  care  being  taken  that  the  bowels  are  kept  open,  either  by 
means  of  aloes  oi-  Epsom  salts. 

The  bleeding  should  be  repeated  on  the  second  day,  if  the  animal 
be  not  evidently  relieved  ;  and  as  much  blood  should  be  again  taken 
as  the  patient  can  bear  to  lose. 

The  stable  or  cow-house  should  be  warm,  and  the  animal  covered 
with  two  or  three  thick  runs.  If  considerable  perspiration  can  be 
excited,  the  beast  is  almost  sure  to  experience  some  relief. 

It  will  be  almost  labor  in  vain  to  endeavor  to  stimulate  the  skin, 
or  to  raise  a  blister.  Two,  three,  or  four  setons  in  the  dewlap  have 
been  useful ;  and  benefit  has  been  derived  from  shaving  the  back 
along  the  whole  course  of  the  skin,  and  cautei  iz'.ng  it  severely  with  the 
common  firing-iron.  If  it  should  be  found  impractic  ible  to  adminis- 
ter either  food  or  medicine  by  the  mouth,  they  must  be  given  in  the 
form  of  cl}'sters.  Uo  ible  the  usual  quantity  of  the  medicine  must 
be  given,  on  account  of  the  probable  loss  of  a  portion  of  it,  and  the 
small  quantity  that  the  absorbents  of  the  intestines  may  take  up  ;  but 
too  much  gruel  must  not  be  injected,  otherwise  it  will  probably  be 
returned.  A  quart  generally  will  be  as  much  as  will  be  retained,  and 
the  clyster  may  be  repeated  five  or  six  times  in  the  course  of  the  day. 

Should  the  progress  of  the  disease  have  been  rapid,  and  the  symp* 


EPILEPSY. 


171 


toms  violent ;  or  should  it  be  found  to  be  impossible  to  give  medicines 
by  the  mouth,  or  cause  them  to  act  b}^  injection,  the  most  prudent 
thing  Avill  be  to  have  recourse  to  the  butcher.  The  meat  will  not  be 
in  the  slightest  degree  injured,  for  it  is  a  disease  that  is  rarely 
accompanied  by  any  great  degree  of  fever.  There  have  been  cases  of 
cure  of  locked  jaw  by  the  use  of  cold  water ;  it  is  to  be  applied 
in  a  stream  (the  douche),  with  some  little  fall  along  the  back  from 
the  head  to  the  tail,  and  continuously  for  hours  if  necessary.  Re- 
laxation will  occur  sooner  or   later.     This  may  be  added  to  other 


means. 


Homoeopathic  treatment. — Nux  vomica  has  proved  very  efficacious. 
It  is  administered  in  repeated  doses,  at  first  several  times  a  day,  then 
every  two  or  three  days.  If  any  rigidity  remain  in  the  limbs,  ^arseni- 
ciim  is  prescribed,  after  which  it  is  right  almost  always  to  recur  to 
nnx  vomica.  In  some  cases  where  the  animal  had  not  recovered 
appetite,  benefit  has  been  obtained  from  ipecacuanha.  Belladonna 
mercv^ius  vivus,  and  veratrum  have  also  been  useful. 


EPILEPSY. 


This  is  of  rare  occurrence,  but  not  easy  to  treat  when  it  appears. 
It  attacks  animals  of  all  ages,  but  chiefly  those  under  three  years  old* 
There  are  few  symptoms  of  the  approach  of  the  fit,  except,  perhaps,* 
a  httle  dullness  or  heaviness.  All  at  once,  the  beast  stao-o-ers— falls  • 
sometimes  he  utters  the  most  frightful  bellowings ;  It  others  he 
make  no  noise,  but  every  limb  is  convulsed  ;  the  heaving  of  the  flanks 
IS  particularly  violent,  and  would  scarcely  be  credited  unless  seen ; 
the  jaws  are  either  firmly  clenched,  or  there  is  grinding  of  the  teeth 
and  a  frothy  fluid  is  plentifully  discharged  from  the  mouth,  mixed 
with  portions  of  the  food,  which  seem  to  have  been  prepared  for 
rumination.     The  faeces  and  the  urine  flow  involuntarily. 

Sometimes  these  symptoms  do  not  continue  more  than  a  few 
seconds  ;  at  others  the  fit  lasts  several  minutes,  and  then  the  con- 
vulsions become  less  violent— gradually  cease,  and  the  beast  ^ets  up 
boks  about,  seems  unconscious  of  what  has  happened— at  length 
begins  to  graze  as  before.  ^ 

This  disease  is  usually  to  be  traced  to  some  mismanagement  with 
regard  to  the  food.  It  oftenest  attacks  young  cattle  in  hio-h  con- 
dition who  have  lately  been  turned  on  better  pasture  than  irsual,  or 
who  have  been  exposed  to  some  temporary  excitement  from  over- 
driving, or  the  heat  of  the  weather.  It  is  a  species  of  verticro  or 
staggers— a  sudden  determination  of  blood  to  the  head  ;  and  &  the 
farmer  does  not  take  warning,  mischief  will  result. 

A  very  serious  part  of  this  business  is,  that  the  haUt  of  fits  is  soon 
lormed.  ihe  first  is  frequently  succeeded  by  a  second,  and  at  length 
three  or  four  will  occur  in  a  day. 


172  ,  CATTLE. 


BlepdinQT,  physic,  and  short  feed  will  be  the  treatment ;  and  the 
last  the  most  impoi'tant.  If  the  beast  were  designed  for  market,  it 
will  be  prudent  to  hasten  that  time. 

Homoeopalhic  treatment. — Some  doses  of  oconitum  are  the  first 
means  to  be  employed  ;  after  which  we  should  administer  stramo- 
nium, and,  if  the  fit  return,  belladonna.  We  may  also  have  recourse 
to  hyoscyamus,  (especially  if  the  fits  are  accompanied  with  violent 
movements  of  the  thighs,)  also  to  cocculus  and  calcarea  carbonica.  It 
will  be  useful  to  try  some  doses  of  camphor  every  week,  to  prevent 
the  return  of  the  fits.  ]f  the  disease  depend  on  worms,  as  has  been 
sometimes  found,  china  is  one  of  the  most  useful  remedies  for  it. 

PALSY. 

There  are  many  low,  woody,  marshy  situations,  in  which  cattle 
are  subject  to  palsy.  It  is  frequent  during  a  cold,  ungenial  spring ; 
and  sometimes  it  assumes  the  character  of  an  epizootic.  Old  beasts, 
and  those  that  have  been  worked,  are  particularly  subject  to  i^ ;  and 
especially  when  they  are  turned  out  during  a  cold  night,  after  a  hard 
day's  work.  A  damp  and  unwholesome  cowhouse,  from  which  the 
litter  is  rarely  removed,  but  putrid  effluvia  mingle  with  the  vapor 
that  is  continually  rising,  is  a  fruitful  source  of  palsy,  and  especially 
if  to  this  be  added  the  influence  of  scanty  and  bad  food  and  stagnant 
water.  Old  cows,  whose  milk  has  been  dried  and  who  cannot  be 
made  to  carry  much  flesh,  are  very  subject  to  this  complaint. 

Palsy  is  usually  slow  in  its  progress.  There  appears  to  be  general 
debility ;  perhaps  referable  to  the  part  about  to  be  attacked  more 
than  to  any  other ;  and  a  giving  way,  or  trembling  of  that  part,  and 
sometimes,  but  not  always,  a  coldness  of  it.  The  hind  limbs  are 
most  fi-equently  attacked.  It  is  at  first  feebleness,  which  increases  to 
stiffness,  to  awkwaidness  of  motion,  and  at  length  to  total  loss  of  it. 
The  fore  limbs  are  sometimes  the  principal  seat  of  the  disease,  but 
then  the  hind  limbs  always  participate  in  the  affection.  In  no  case 
is  there  any  aff"ection  of  one  side  and  not  of  the  other ;  this  is  a  dif- 
ference in  palsy  in  the  human  being  and  the  brute,  for  which  we  can- 
not account. 

Sometimes  this  complaint  is  traced  to  a  ridiculous  cause.  The 
original  evil  is  said  to  be  in  the  tail  ;  and  it  is  thought  that  the  mis- 
chief passes  along  the  cow's  tail  to  the  back,  and  that  it  is  on  account 
of  something  wrong  in  the  tail  that  she  loses  the  use  of  her  legs : 
some  cut  the  cow's  tail  off";  others,  less  cruel,  make  an  incision  into 
the  under  surface,  and  allow  the  wound  to  bleed  freely,  and  then 
fill  it  up  with  a  mixture  of  tar  and  salt.  Is  not  relief  sometimes 
given  by  these  operations  on  the  tail  ? — probably.  What  would 
make  a  cow  get  up  and  use  her  limbs  if  the  knife,  and  the  rubbing-in 
of  tar  and  salt  failed  ;  the  loss  of  blood  would  often  be  beneficial, 
but  not  more  from  the  tail  than  from  any  other  part. 


NEUROTOMY.  173 


The  most  frequent  caus€  of  palsy  is  the  turning  out  of  beasts  of 
every  kind,  but  particularly  cows,  too  early  to  grass,  after  they  have 
been  housed  during  the  winter  and  first  part  of  the  spring.  One- 
fourth  of  the  stock  is  sometimes  completely  chilled  and  palsied  be- 
hind in  the  course  of  two  or  three  nights.  The  general  health  will 
not  be  much  affected,  except  that,  perhaps,  hoose  comes  on  ;  but 
the  beasts  will  lay  three  or  four  weeks  before  they  recover  the  use  of 
their  limbs. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  may  be  summed  up  in  one  word — 
comfort.  The  cattle  should,  if  possible,  be  immediately  removed 
into  a  warm,  but  not  close,  cow-house,  and  well  littered,  and  a  rug 
thrown  over  them,  turned  twice  in  the  day,  and  so  laid  that  the  faeces 
and  urine  will  flow  from  them. 

Physic  should  be  first  administered.  This  species  of  palsy  is 
usually  attended  b}'-  considerable  constipation,  ichkli  must  he  over- 
come ;  but  with  the  physic,  a  good  dose  of  cordial  medicine  should 
always  be  mixed.  Give  an  ounce  of  powdered  ginger,  and  a  half 
pint  at  least  of  good  soun>l  ale.  Except  in  diseases  of  a  decidedly 
inflammatory  nature,  or  of  such  a  state  of  nervous  irritability  as 
tetanus,  the  physic  of  cattle  should  be  mixed  with  aromatics,  and 
frequently  with  ale.  It  is  to  the  administration  ©f  these  cordials  in 
cases  of  fever  that  we  object  ;  no  fuel  should  be  then  added  to  fire  ; 
but  in  general  cases,  with  the  constitution  of  the  cow  mild  cordial 
medicine  does  not  disagree. 

In  palsy,  there  is  usually  an  indifference  to  food.  This  is  reason 
for  giving  a  little  cordial  with  the  physic.  The  beast  should  be 
coaxed  to  eat — the  food  which  is  in  season  should  be  off"ered  to  it, 
and  frequently  changed.  Hand-rubbing,  and  plenty  of  it,  should  be 
used  two  or  three  times  every  day  about  the  loins  ;  a  stimulating 
liniment  may  be  applied,  consisting  of  equal  parts  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, camphorated  spirit,  and  hartshorn.  The  chief  dependence 
is  on  keeping  the  bowels  open,  and  the  animal  comfortable  ;  and  then 
in  from  ten  days  to  a  month  he  will  usually  get  up  again. 

Strychnine  would  be  worth  a  trial  where  the  purgative  comforta- 
ble system  fails  ;  but  that  succeeds  so  often,  that  we  should  be 
loth  to  have  recourse  to  anything  else  in  the  first  instance. 

nomaoxiatliic  treatment. — The  chief  remedies  to  be  used  are : 
aconitum,  arsenicum,  arnica,  belladonna,  hryonia,  crocus  colcnrea, 
carhonica  causticum,  dulcamara,  rkus  toxicodendron,  ruta,  sulphur, 
ferrum,  cinchona,  &c.  If  paralysis  result  from  rheumatism,  we 
should  employ  arnica,  ferrum,  rhns,  rhuta,  lycopodium,  and  sulphur. 
If  from  debility,  cinchona,  fernm,  hurytn,  carhonica,  silphur,  and 
calcarea.  If  from  apoplexy,  arnica,  helladonna,  hryonia,  nux  vo- 
mica, &c.     If  from  injury,  arnica,  aconitum,  dulcamara,  &c. 

NEUROTOMY. 

Veterinary  surgeons,  to  relieve  the    pain   which  the  horse  must 


174  CATTLE. 


otherwise  enduie  from  several  diseases*  cf  the  foot,  cut  out  a  por- 
tion of  the  nen'e  of  the  leg.  This  cannot  interfere  with  the  motion 
of  the  limb,  because  there  are  no  muscles  beneath  the  knee  for 
the  nerve  to  supply ;  but  it  cuts  off  the  communication  of  the 
feeling  of  pain.  If  a  nerve  concerned  with  feeling  be  divided,  the 
impressions,  whether  of  pleasure  or  of  pain,  made  on  it,  below  the 
division,  cannot  be  conveyed  to  the  brain,  and  therefore  the  animal  is 
totally  unconscious  of  them.  Many  a  valuable  animal  is  thus  re- 
lieved from  torture,  and  perhaps  his  services  are  retained  for  many 
a  year,  and  bulls  useless  from  lameness  are  made  fit  for  service. 

The  working  ox  is  subject  to  several  diseases  of  the  feet,  the 
consequences  of  shoeing  and  hard  labor,  and  which  are  painful  and 
difficult  to  treat.  From  the  division  of  his  foot,  and  the  hardness 
and  occasional  inequality  of  the  ground,  and  the  consequent  ine- 
quality of  pressure  on  the  two  pasterns,  he  is  subject  to  sprains 
of  the  fetlock  joint,  and  injuries  of  the  shank-bone.  Enlargements 
of  the  lower  head  of  these  bones  are  frequently  found  in  the  ox. 
With  these  diseases,  the  animal  is  capable  of  little  work,  and  will 
not  carry  much  flesh.  There  are  diseases  natural  to  cattle,  which 
are  productive  of  a  great  deal  of  pain,  and  materially  lessen  the 
profit  derived  from  ihem.  Cows  have  lost,  for  a  time,  full  half  of 
their  milk,  on  account  of  the  pain  of  tender  or  diseased  feet.  The 
advantage  of  three  and  four  months'  feeding  from  the  same  cause 
is  often  lost.  In  the  London  dairies  tender  feet  is  often  a  most  seri- 
ous ailment,  and  compels  the  milkman  to  part  with  some  of  his  best 
cows. 

Why  should  not  neurotomy  be  resoi  ted  to  ?  There  is  nothing 
difficult  in  it  to  any  one  acquainted  with  the  anatomy  of  the  part ; 
and  its  beneficial  effect  cannot  admit  of  dispute.  It  is  free  from  any 
objection. 

The  operation  is  thus  performed  : — The  ox  is  cast  and  secured, 
the  hair  being  previously  cut  from  the  limb  to  be  operated  upon. 
The  leg  is  then  to  be  removed  from  the  hobbles,  and  distended,  and 
a  tight  ligature  passed  round  it  beneath  the  knee,  to  prevent  bleed- 
ing. Then,  on  the  centre  of  the  back  of  the  leg,  (the  cut,  p.  176, 
No.  1,  represents  the  left  leg,)  but  a  little  inclining  towards  the  in- 
side, and  about  2|  inches  above  the  fetlock,  the  artery  will  be  felt 
for.  Lying  immediately  inside  the  artery,  towards  the  other  leg,  is 
the  vein,  and  close  to  that  the  nerve  ;  the  nerve  will  be  found  about 
one-sixth  part  of  an  inch  within  the  artery.  The  artery  is  recognized 
by  its  pulsation — the  vein  by  its  yielding  to  the  pressure  of  the  fin- 
ger, and  the  nerve  by  its  being  a  hard,  unyielding  body.  The  opera- 
tor then  makes  a  cautious  incision,  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  over 
the  nerve,  taking  care  merely  to  cut  through  the  integument.  The 
cellular  substance  is  dissected  through,  and  the  nerve  exposed.  A 
crooked  needle,  with  silk,  is  next  passed  under  it,  to  raise  it  a  little ; 


NJUDROTOMY.  m 


it  is  dissected  from  the  cellular  substance  beneath,  and  about  three- 
quarters  of  an  inch  cut  out ;  the  first  incision  being-  made  at  the 
upper  part,  in  which  case  the  second  cut  will  not  be  felt.  Tliere  is 
only  one  nerve  to  be  cut  here,  because  the  operation  is  to  be  per- 
formed a  little  above  the  branching  of  the  nerve. 

The  edges  of  the  wound  are  now  brought  together ;  a  small  bit  of 
tow  or  lint  is  placed  over  them,  and  upon  that  a  bandage  is  drawn 
tolerably  tight.  The  wound  should  not  be  examined  for  the  first 
three  days,  after  which  dress  with  healing  ointment,  or  the  tincture  of 
aloes.  In  about  three  weeks  it  will  be  quite  healed.  The  relief 
will  be  immediate,  and  the  milk  of  the  cow  will  return,  or  the  graz- 
ing beast  will  begin  to  fatten  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two. 

The  cut  (No.  1)  of  the  lateral  and  posterior  part  of  the  leg  and 
foot  of  the  ox,  shows  the  distribution  and  relative  situation  of  the 
blood-vessels  and  nerves  of  those  portions  of  leg,  fetlock,  and  foot. 
Besides  these,  there  is  only  one  superficial  nerve  accompany ino-  the 
superficial  vein  down  to  the  centre  of  the  great  metacarpal,  oV  rather, 
in  the  young  animal,  the  suture  or  union  between  the  two  bones, 
few  or  none  of  whose  fibres  extend  below  the  fetlock,  and  which 
may  be  easily  got  at  and  divided  in  disease  of  that  joint. 

The  cut  (No.  2)  shows  how  few  nervous  branches  extend  down 
the  front  of  the  lower  part  of  the  leg ;  and  how  completely  the 
object  of  neurotomy  will  be  accomplished  by  the  division  of  the 
nerve  at  the  posterior  part  of  the  leg,  in  the  manner  recommended. 
The  figures  illustrate  the  anatomy  of  the  fore-part  of  the  fetlock  and 
pasterns  of  the  ox.  The  nerves  are  represented  by  a  plain  black 
line,  as  in  No.  1. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  cut,  that  there  may  be  doubt  as  to  the 
precise  portion  of  the  foot  which  is  diseased,  and  the  branch  of  the 
nerve  which  it  will  be  proper  to  cut.  There  are  t]:ie  two  lateral  and 
the  median  trunks  for  the  operator  to  choose  fi'om  ;  but  he  Avho  is 
wise,  when  ojjeratinrf  on  a  I'ast  of  draught  or  slow  action,  will  operate 
on  the  ox  sufiiciently  above  the  fetlock,  and  rather  above  than  below 
the  situation  marked  17  in  the  cut,  and  before  the  division  of  the 
nfrye. 


176 


CATTLE. 


No.  1. 


LEG    AND    FOOT    OF    THE    OX. 


No.  1. 

1.  The  tendon  of  the  extensor  of   the 

foot. 

2.  Caspular  ligaments  of  the  fetlock  joint. 

3.  Capsular    ligaments    of   the    pastern 

joint. 

4.  Tendon  of  the  perforans  muscle. 

5.  Ligamentous  portions. 

6.  Tendons  of  the  perforans  and  perfora- 

tus  muscles. 

7.  Division  of  the  tendon  of  the  carpo- 

phalangeus. 

8.  The  lateral    external  artery   of   the 

canon,  or  shank. 

9.  The  mesian  and  posterior  artery  of 

the  fetlock. 

10.  The  lateral  internal  artery. 

11.  The  posterior  branches  of  the  plantar 

arteries. 

12.  The  lateral  external  vein  of  the  canon. 

13.  The  lateral  internal  vein  of  the  canon. 

14.  The  lateral  vein  of  the  pastern. 

15.  A   branch   which    is   formed    by   the 

plantar  veins,  and  the  venous  res- 
ervoir of  the  plantar. 

16.  The  vascular    reservoir,    covered    in 

part  by  the  coronet. 

17.  The  plantar  nerve  before  its  bifurca- 

tion. 
!S.  Nervous  branches,  which,  after  having 
parted  from  the  preceding,  take  a 
direction,  the   one  backward   and 
downward  to  the  lateral  and  ex- 


ternal part  of  the  fetlock,  and  the 
other  downward  to  the  internal 
part  of  the  same  joint. 

19.  The  mesian  division  of  the  same  nerve. 

It  pursues  its  course  by  the  artery 
of  the  same  name. 

20.  A  continuation  of  the  plantar  nerve, 

accompanying  the  internal  lateral 
artery. 

21.  The  sensible  laminaj  of  the  coflBn  bone, 

correspondinif  with  the  horny  la- 
mina) of  the  hoof. 

22.  The  usual   horny  excrescence  at  the 

posterior  part  of  the  fetlock. 

No.  2. 

1.  The  tendons  of  the   extensor  of  the 

pastern  below  the  bifurcation. 

2.  The  tendons  of  the  extensor  of  the  foot 

3.  Internal  lateral  ligaments. 

4.  Capsular  ligaments  of  the  fetlock  joint 
6.  The  capsular  ligaments  of  the  pastern 

joints. 
6.  A  portion  of  integument,  which  unites 
the  two  hoofs  at  their  superior  and 
internal  j)an.  The  blood-vessels 
brought  principally  into  view,  are, 
the  superficial  veins  of  the  leg 
above  ;  the  anastomosis  of  the  pro- 
found and  superficial  veins  below, 
between  the  figures  2.  2;  and  the  su- 
perficial plantar  arteries  ana  >ein8, 
Btill  lower  down. 


RABIES.  177 


RABIES. 

There  is  one  more  disease  of  the  nervous  system,  the  most  fearful 
of  the  hst,  viz.,  Rabies,  When  a  rabid  or  mad  dog  is  wandering 
about,  if  his  road  hes  by  cattle  he  will  attack  the  nearest  to  him,  and 
if  he  meets  with  much  resistance  he  will  bite  as  many  as  he  can. 

When  there  is  suspicion  that  a  beast  has  been  bitten,  the  wound 
should  be  carefully  searched  for,  and  being  discovered,  the  hair  must 
be  cut  from  the  edges  of  it,  and  lunar  caustic  (nitrate  of  silver),  the 
stick  being  reduced  to  a  point,  introduced  into  it,  and  brought  in 
contact  with,  and  made  thoroughly  to  act  upon,  every  part  of  it. 
If  there  be  doubt  about  the  caustic  coming  into  contact  with  every 
part  of  the  wound,  it  must  be  enlarged  with  the  knife,  so  as  to  give 
free  access  to  it ;  and  the  caustic  being  fi-eely  used  upon  the  whole 
of  the  wound,  the  beast  is  safe.  But  who,  on  an  animal  thickly 
covered  with  hair,  will  say  that  there  is  no  other  wound  ?  The 
shghtest  scratch,  neglected,  is  as  dangerous  as  a  lacerated  wound. 

In  this  state  of  uncertainty,  therefore,  the  farmer  must  look  out 
for  the  worst.  If  the  disease  appear,,  it  will  be  about  the  end  of  the 
fifth  week,  although  there  will  be  no  absolute  security  in  less  than 
double  the  number  of  months. 

The  beast  will  appear  dull,  languid,  feverish,  scarcely  grazing,  and 
idly  ruminating.  These  may  be  symptoms  of  many  a  different  ill- 
ness, and  the  previous  circumstances  alone  could  excite  suspicion  of 
what  is  to  follow.  The  eyes  become  anxious,  protude,  red — there 
is  considerable  dischai-ge  of  saliva,  and  to  this  succeeds  a  thirst  that 
can  scarcely  be  quenched.  There  is  no  dread  of  water  at  any  time. 
It  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  on  the  mind,  and  may  preserve 
from  danger,  anxiety,  and  fear,  him  who  has  to  do  with  domesticated 
animals  of  any  kind — that  the  constant  and  characteristic  dread  of 
water  is  confined  to  the  human  being.  The  ox  may  exhibit  a  mo- 
mentary dislike  to  fluids,  but  generally  will  drink  to  the  last,  and  the 
desire  of  water  is  increased  rather  than  diminislved  by  the  disease. 

In  the  ox,  the  disease,  from  some  cause  unknown,  takes  on  two 
essentially  different  characters.  The  symptoms  that  we  have  men- 
tioned are  succeeded  by  frequent  pitiful  lowings,  and  a  contin- 
ual and  painful  attempt  to  evacuate  the  faeces.  Staggering  and 
weakness  of  the  loins  ?  ^pear  on  the  second  or  third  day,  and  this  is 
soon  succeeded  by  pais)  of  the  hinder  extremities.  The  animal  sits 
on  its  haunches,  making  ineffectual  attempts  to  rise — looking  wo- 
ful!y  around  it,  and  eagei  plunging  its  muzzle  into  the  water,  when 
placed  within  its  reach,  but  it  makes  no  attempt  to  do  mischief.  At 
other  times,  the  early  symptoms  are  succeeded  by  a  dreadful  state 
of  excitation.  The  animal  is  eager  to  do  every  kind  of  mischief ;  he 
stands  across  the  path,  bellowing  incessantly,  and  tearing  up  the 
fijround  with  his  horns.  In  a  few  casss,  the  quiet  and  melancholv 
8* 


178  CATTLE. 


madness  suddenly  changes  into  that  of  a  ferocious  character.  There 
is  no  cure  now  ,  and  the  animal  should  be  destroyed.  One  circum- 
stance also  should  be  remembered.  The  poison  in  rabid  animals 
seems  to  be  in  the  saliva  ;  and  the  saliva  of  an  ox  is  as  dangerous 
as  that  of  a  dog. 

The  rabid  ox  may  attempt  more  mischief  with  its  horns  than  its 
teeth,  but  occasionally  will  bite ;  or,  if  not,  yet  must  not  be  meddled 
with  too  much.  This  dangerous  foam  is  continually  running  from 
the  mouth  ;  it  may  fall  on  a  sore  place,  and  it  is  then  as  dangerous 
as  a  bite. 

The  knowledge  that  the  virus  is  confined  to  the  saliva  will  settle 
-another  matter.  A  cow  may  be  observed  to  be  ailing  for  a  day  or 
two,  but  has  been  milked  as  usual ;  her  milk  has  been  mingled  with 
the  rest,  and  has  been  used.  She  is  discovered  to  be  rabid.  Can 
the  milk  of  a  rabid  cow  be  drunk  with  impunity  ?  Yes,  for  the 
poison  is  confined  to  the  saliva.  Miscreants  have  sent  the  flesh  of 
rabid  cattle  to  market,  and  it  has  been  eaten  without  harm. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — A  dose  of  belladonna  is  to  be  adminis- 
tered first ;  the  bite  is  to  be  well  washed,  and  fomented  with  water, 
to  which  some  drops  of  extract  of  belladonna  have  been  added. 
The  doses  of  belladonna  are  to  be  repeated,  first  every  day,  then  at 
longer  intervals.  When  a  mad  dog  has  found  his  way  into  a  herd, 
it  is  a  good  precaution  to  make  all  the  beasts  take  a  dose  of  bella- 
donna daily,  for  eight  or  aven  twelve  da^ys. 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE  ANATOMY,  USES,  AND  DISEASES   OF  THE 
NOSTRILS  AND   THE   MOUTH. 

The  nasal  cavity  of  the  ox  contains  the  apparatus  for  the  sense 
ol  »mell,  and  is  also  devoted  to  the  purpose  of  respiration.  It  is  one 
of  the  passages  by  which  the  air  is  conveyed  to  and  from  the  lungs ; 
bui  as  the  ox  partly  breathes  through  the  mouth,  there  are  found 
in  the  cavity  of  his  nose  contrivances  for  great  perfection  of  smelling. 

THE    NASAL     BOXES. 

From  the  great  development  of  the  frontal  bones,  in  order  to  form 
a  secure  basis  for  the  horn,  all  the  bones  of  the  face  are  proportion- 
ately diminished;  and  therefore  the  nasal  hones  in  the  ox  (6,  p.  143, 
q,  p.  144,)  are  small.  They  are  connected  with  each  other,  and  with 
the  frontals  {c,  p.  143  and  h,  p.  144),  with  the  lacrymals  (c,  p.  143), 
with  the  superior  maxillaries  (a,  p.  144  and  x,  p.  143.)  and  with  the 
anterior  maxillaries  {z,  p.  144).  They  are  pushed  down,  and  not 
being  in  a  situation  of  danger,  there  is  not  any  intricate  and  mor- 
toised  connection  with  any  of  the  other  bones  except  the  frontals. 
They  are  broad  in  proportion  to  their  length ;  and  as,  on  account  of 
the  construction  of  the  mouth  of  the  ox,  the  muzzle  was  destined 
to  be  broad,  each  bone  terminates  in  two  points,  with  a  hollow  be- 
tween them ;  and  as  the  inside  points  of  the  two  lie  in  contact  with 
each  other,  the  nasal  bones  may  be  considered  as  actually  ending  in 
three  points  instead  of  one,  and  occupying  a  considerably-extended 
surface.  It  is  thus  wide,  for  the  greater  attachment  of  muscle  and 
cartilage  ;  for  the  muzzle  must  be  broad  and  thick  and  strong,  in 
order  to  compress  and  hold  the  grass  firmly,  until  it  is  partly  cut 
and  partly  torn  by  the  pressure  of  the  incisors  of  the  lower  jaw  on 
the  pad  which  occupies  the  place  of  the  teeth  in  the  upper  one. 

If  the  nasal  bone  be  closely  examined,  it  will  be  found  that  it  does 
not  consist,  in  its  under  surface,  of  one  continuous  arch,  but  that 
there  is  a  channel  hollowed  out  of  it,  and  running  along  the  crown 
of  the  arch.  It  can  be  seen  above  (r,  p.  144.)  Tliis  is  an  addition 
to  the  upper  meatus  or  passage  of  the  nose  above  the  upper  turbi- 


180  CATTLE. 


nated  bone,  and  which  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  act  of  breathing, 
but  terminates  in  a  blind  pouch,  so  that  the  air  shall,  as  it  were, 
loiter  there,  and  any  odor  which  it  carries,  make  a  stronger  impression 
on  the  membrane  of  the  nose.  Therefore,  and  for  other  reasons  that 
will  be  stated,  the  ox  has  an  acute  sense  of  smell. 

THE    OTHER    BONES    OF    THE    NOSE. 

The  S2iperwr  maxillary  bone  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  wall 
and  floor  of  the  nasal  cavity.  It  contains  the  upper  grinders  on 
either  side.  Its  floor  does  not  consist  of  a  single  plate  of  bone,  but 
of  cells,  like  those  of  the  frontal  parietal  and  occipital  bones.  This 
bone  is  represented  at  a,  p.  143  and  x,  p.  144. 

The  anterior  maxillary,  {z,  p.  144.)  containing  no  incisor  teeth,  is 
a  very  small  bone. 

The  palatine  hone  (jo,  p.  144)  is  large  in  the  ox,  and  occupies  a 
great  portion  of  the  palate  and  the  floor  of  the  nose. 

CONTENTS    OF    THE    NASAL    CAVITY. 

The  nasal  cavity  contains  the  septum,  a  cartilaginous  division  ex- 
tending from  the  suture  in  the  roof  between  the  nasals,  to  a  long 
bone  in  the  form  of  a  groove,  named  the  vomer,  and  placed  on  the 
floor  ;  and  from  the  top  of  the  nasals  to  the  aethmoid  bone,  dividing 
the  nose  into  two  equal  parts.  There  is  no  necessity  for  this  per- 
fect division,  and  therefore  the  vomer,  when  it  has  reached  about 
half  way  up  the  cavity,  begins  to  leave,  and  separates  from  the  floor 
more  and  more  as  it  approaches  the  posterior  part  of  the  nostiils, 
leavino-  a  free  and  extensive  communication  between  them.  This 
gives  room  for  still  more  effectual  provision  for  the  perfection  of 
the  sense  of  smell. 

THE    SENSE    OF    SMELLING. 

The  olfactory,  or  first  pair  of  nerves,  connected  with  the  sense 
of  smelling,  is  abundantly  large  in  quadrupeds,  for  it  is  connec- 
ted with  life  itself.  The  same  nerve  differs  in  size  in  diff"erent 
quadrupeds,  according  to  the  necessity  that  each  has  for  an  acute 
sense  of  smell  The  brain  of  the  ox  is  not  more  than  half  the 
size  of  that  of  the  horse,  but  he  has  occasion  for  acuter  smell,  and 
his  olfactory  nerve  is  nearly  as  large  as  that  of  the  horse  ;  and,  com- 
paring the  bulk  of  the  two  brains,  it  is  a  great  deal  larger.  This 
nerve  comes  in  contact  with  a  thin  plate  '^f  bone,  the  crihriform 
plate  (perforated  like  a  cullender,)*' of  the  sethmoid  bone,  which  di- 
vides the  nasal  cavity  from  that  of  the  skull ;  the  somewhat  thickened 
portion  of  another  bone  interposed  between  these  plates  is  seen  at  n, 
p.  144.  The  pulpy  matter  of  the  nerve  is  pressed  through  the  holes 
of  this  hone,  and  SDread  over  a  portion  of  the  membrane  of  the 


BLELDING  FROM  THE  NOSE.  181 

nose.  It  is  the  impression  which  is  made  by  the  odor  of  bodies 
striking  on  this  diffused  pulpy  matter,  that  produces  the  sense  of 
smell ;  and  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  surface  over  which  the 
nerve  is  spread,  is  the  acuteness  of  the  smell. 

The  ox  partly  breathing  through  the  mouth,  and  the  air  passage 
being  widened  by  the  removal  of  a  portion  of  the  septum,  provision 
can  be  made  for  the  more  extensive  diffusion  of  the  nervous  pulp. 
Nearest  to  the  skull,  and  situated  at  the  upper  part  of  the  nasal 
cavity,  are  the  cells  of  the  aethmoid  bone,  (r,  p.  144,)  and  the  supe- 
rior development  of  them  in  the  ox  is  evident.  The  lower  cell  of  the 
sethmoid  labyrinth  is  so  much  lengthened  in  the  ox,  that  it  is  some- 
times described  as  a  third  turbinated  bone.  It  is  represented  at  u, 
p.  144.  Below  these  are  the  two  turbinated  bones,  (5  and  t,  p.  144,) 
both  of  them,  and  especially  the  lower  one,  largely  developed.  Each 
of  these  bones  is  composted  of  a  labyrinth  of  cells,  divided  from  each 
other  by  wafer-like  plates  of  bone,  perforated  like  the  cribriform  plate 
of  the  sethmoid  bone — lined  by  the  Schneiderian  membrane,  with  the 
nervous  pulp  spread  over  or  identified  with  that  membrane — and  a 
thou^md  communications  between  the  membranes  in  every  part,  by 
means  of  the  gauze-like  perforated  structure  of  the  plates. 

This  membrane  is  either  covered  with  an  unctuous  fluid,  or  the 
air  passages  are  so  complicated  that  the  pure  atmospheric  air  alone 
is  suffend  to  pass  ;  the  slightest  odor  or  solid  substance  of  any  kind 
is  arrested.  This  is  not  only  a  wise  provision  for  the  perfection  of 
the  sense  of  smelling — it  not  only  secures  the  contact  of  every  parti- 
cle with  the  membrane  of  the  nose,  and  its  temporary  lodgment 
there,  but  it  protects  the  air  passages  from  many  a  source  of  annoy- 
ance, danger,  and  death. 

Nature  has  provided  an  acute  sense  of  smell  for  the  ox :  it  was 
wanted.  It  was  necessary  that  the  animal  should  detect  the  peculiar 
scent  of  every  plant,  as  connected  either  with  nutrition  or  destruc- 
tion. Instinct  perhaps  teaches  him  much,  but  he  is  more  indebted 
to  the  lessons  of  experience.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  the 
scent  of  the  infant  plant  is  scarcely  developed,  cattle  are  often  de- 
ceived with  regard  to  the  nature  of  the  herbage ;  aie  subject  to  pe- 
culiar complaints  of  indigestion  ;  and  are  sometimes  poisoned. 

BLEEDING    FROM    THE    ^-OSE. 

Working  oxen,  and  especially  those  in  tolerably  high  condition, 
are  occasionally  subject  to  bleeding  from  the  nose,  and  sometimes 
very  profuse  bleeding.  If  too  hardly  and  too  long  worked  during 
the  heat  of  a  summer's  day,  nasal  haemorrhage  may  occur ;  to  blows 
inflicted  on  the  nasals  or  on  tliB  muzzle  by  a  brutal  drover  or 
ploughman,  far  oftener  than  to  any  other  cause,  is  bleeding  due.  It 
is  not  often  that  any  unpleasant  consequences  ensue.  The  bleeding 
gradually  ceases. 


182  CATTLE. 


LEECHES    IN    THE    NASAL    CAVITY. 

Often  leeches  fasten  on  the  muzzle,  and  then  creep  into  the  nos- 
tril of  the  ox,  when  drinking  at  a  stagnant  pool.  One  of  these  blood- 
suckers having  introduced  himself  into  the  cavity,  will  usually  shift 
from  place  to  place,  biting  here  and  there,  and  causing  a  very  con- 
siderable haemorrhage.  The  beast  will  tell  us  plainly  enough  the 
cause  of  the  bleeding,  by  the  uneasiness  which  he  will  express,  and 
by  his  continually  snorting  and  tossing  his  head  about. 

On  examining  the  nostril  in  a  good  light,  the  leech  may  sometimes 
be  seen.  Cover  the  end  of  the  finger  wnth  a  little  salt,  and  introduce 
it  sufficiently  high  to  detach  the  blood-sucker  from  his  hold.  At 
other  times  when  a  leech  is  suspected,  salt  and  water  may  be  in- 
jected up  the  nostril.  When  he  is  fully  bloated,  he  will  detach  him- 
self;  and,  except  he  has  crept  up  the  superior  meatus,  through 
which  there  is  no  air  passage,  he  will  be  expelled  by  the  sneezing  of 
the  ox.  Only  temporary  inconvenience  can  result,  for  the  bleeding 
will  stop,  even  from  so  vascular  a  membrane  as  that  of  the  nose. 

POLYPUS    IN    THE    NOSE. 

This  is  a  rare  disease  in  the  or.  Polypi  should  be  removed  by  a 
ligature  round  the  pedicle,  and  as  near  to  the  root  as  possible,  or  by 
tortion,  and  by  the  former  whenever  it  can  be  effected. 

COICYZA, 

By  this  is  meant  inflammation  of,  and  defluction  from,  the  nasal 
cavity,  or  the  cells  with  which  it  is  connected  ;  the  same  affection  on 
the  fauces,  becomes  catarrh.  Catarrh  is  usually  connected  with 
coryza,  and  is  the  natural  consequence  or  progress  of  it ;  but  simple 
coryza  does  occasionally  exist  in  tlie  ox.  We  are  too  often  frightened 
by  a  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  mucous,  purulent,  fetid,  and  exco- 
riating, and  unaccompanied  hy  cough.  It  is  seen  in  crowded  and 
over-heated  cow-houses ;  it  arises  from  imprudent  exposure  to  ex- 
treme cold,  and  it  is  frequently  produced  by  the  dust  and  gravel  of 
the  road.  The  ox  was  not  designed  to  be  exposed  to  the  last  an- 
noyance ;  and  he  has  no  false  nostril  to  turn  off  the  current  of 
minute  and  irritating  particles  from  the  more  susceptible  parts  of 
the  nasal  cavity.  Therefore,  oxen  driven  any  considerable  distance 
to  fair  or  market,  in  sultry,  dusty  weather,  usually  suffer  from  coryza. 
Dairymen,  whose  cows  have  to  travel  half  a  mile  or  more  on  a 
dusty  road,  wonder  that,  with  ail  their  care,  their  cattle  should  have 
such  frequent  discharge  from  the  nose,  and  that  this  should  some- 
times run  on  to  hoose.  The  cause  is  plain  enough,  although  little 
suspected. 

There  is  a  periodical  coryza  in  cattle.  During  the  winter  season, 
and  probably  from  mismanagement — from  undue  exposure  to  cold, 


GLANDERS  AND  FARCY.  ISR 


or  to  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  there  is  considerable  nasal 
gleet,  not  interfering  much  with  health,  but  unpleasant  to  the  eye 
and  annoying  to  the  animal,  and  which,  in  despite  of  the  most  care- 
ful treatment,  will  remain.  When,  however,  the  warmth  of  spring 
returns,  it  sometimes  gradually  disappears.  This,  however,  is  one 
of  the  most  favorable  cases ;  for  it  will  occur  that,  from  some  im- 
proper management,  hoose  or  cough  has  gradually  become  connected 
with  the  nasal  discharge.  The  farmer  has  not  observed  this  con- 
nection, nor  is  he  alarmed  although  the  cough  should  remain  when 
the  nasal  discharge  ceases :  nay,  he  cares  little  about  it,  although 
the  cough  should  be  a  frequent  and  harrassing  one,  if  the  beast 
does  but  carry  its  usual  flesh,  and  yields  its  full  quantity  of  milk  : 
when,  however,  the  milk  fails,  and  the  cow  begins  to  lose  condition, 
he,  for  the  first  time,  looks  about  him,  and  then  it  is  too  late. 

We  are  now,  however,  speaking  of  coryza — inflammation  of,  and 
discharge  from,  the  membrane  of  the  nose.  It  is  a  matter  of  the 
utmost  importance  for  the  attendant  upon  cattle,  to  assure  himself 
that  it  is  simple  coryza.  He  should  carefully  examine  whether 
there  be  any  cough,  especially  whether  that  cough  be  painful — any 
increased  labor  of  breathing — any  diminution  of  appetite — suspension 
of  rumination — fever?  The  pulse,  felt  at  the  left  side,  and  the  tem- 
perature of  the  root  of  the  horn,  will  best  ascertain  this  last  particular. 

If  there  be  nothing  of  these,  still  we  have  inflammation,  and  of  a 
character  that  soon  connects  itself  with  some  or  all  of  them  ;  there- 
fore a  mash  may  be  given  in  the  evening,  and  a  few  doses  of  cooling 
medicine. 

The  best  fever  medicine  for  cattle  is  half  a  drachm  each  of  pow- 
dered digitalis  and  emetic  tartar,  and  two  drachms  each  of  nitre  and 
sulphur,  which  will  constitute  the  medium  fever-powder,  to  be  given 
as  occasion  may  require,  and  increased  or  diminished  in  quantity, 
according  to  the  size  and  age  of  the  beast,  and  the  intensity  of  the 
disease.     This  should  be  given  in  the  form  of  drink. 

If  it  be  simple  coryza,  add  half  a  drachm  of  sulphate  of  copper 
(blue  vitriol,)  finely  powdered,  to  the  other  ingredients.  This  drug 
seems  to  have  a  peculiar  and  a  very  beneficial  termination  to  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  nose  and  its  connecting  cavities,  and  is  very 
useful  in  pure  inflammat'on  or  ulceration  of  that  membrane,  or  dis- 
charge from  it.  A  very  slight  degree  of  hoose,  and  particularly  of 
painful  hoose,  is  a  sufficient  indication  that  the  fever- powders  alone 
are  to  be  used. 

Coryza  may  degenerate  into  catarrh,  bronchitis,  or  inflammation  of 
the  lungs  ;  the  proper  treatment  will  be  indicated  when  those  diseases 
are  taken  into  consideration. 

GLANDERS    AND    FARCY. 

Of  these  dreadful  diseases  we  have  never  met  with  a  case  in  cattle. 


184  CATTLE. 


It  is  not  a  point  fairly  settled,  and  deserves  peculiar  attention  from 
the  proprietors  of  cattle.  Our  decided  opinion  is  that  cattle  are 
exempt  from  glanders  and  farcy. 

THE    BONES    OF    THE    MOUTH. 

The  sides  and  the  greater  part  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  are  formed 
by  the  superior  maxiUari/,  or  upper  jaw,  seen  at  a,  p.  143,  and  x,  p. 
144.  'lliis  bone  is  materially  diminished  in  size  by  the  great  develop- 
ment of  the  frontal  bones.  It  articulates  with  the  lachrymal  bone  at 
c,  p.  143,  and  the  malar  bone  at  d.  P'or  the  attachment  of  the 
masseter  muscle,  the  surface  of  the  bone  is  roughened  and  tuber- 
culated.  Immediately  above  the  foremost  of  the  upper  grinders  in 
the  cut  of  the  skeleton,  p.  143,  is  a  little  black  mark,  representing  the 
foramen,  or  hole  through  which  the  nerves  and  blood-vessels  proceed 
to  the  lower  part  of  the  face. 

The  superior  maxillary  consists  of  two  plates,  irregularly  separated 
from  each  other  the  outer  forms  the  external,  and  the  other  the 
internal  wall  of  the  mouth,  as  seen  at  x,  p.  144  ;  extending  upward, 
and  assuming  an  arched  form,  the  commencement  of  which  is  seen  at 
X,  it  constitutes  the  greater  part  of  the  bony  roof  of  the  mouth.  The 
inferior  cells  of  the  external  part  contain  the  back  teeth,  or  grinders  ; 
the  superior  ones  are  the  maxillary  sinuses  ;  and  in  the  ox  there  is  a 
new  set  of  cells,  formed  by  a  separation  of  the  plates  of  the  bone, 
between  the  roof  of  the  mouth  and  the  floor  of  the  nasal  cavity. 

The  palatine  hona,  p,  p.  144,  occupies  considerably  more  of  the 
roof  of  the  mouth  than  it  does  in  the  horse. 

The  anterior  maxillary  bone  is  a  very  insignificant  one  ;  there  are 
no  tu.sks,  or  incisor  teeth.  There  are  likewise  considerable  apertures, 
one  of  which  is  seen  between  x  and  z,  p.  144,  which  leave  a  some- 
what extensive  part  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  and  floor  of  the  nose 
occupied  only  by  cellular  substance  and  membrane.  There  is  little 
strength  required  in  the  part,  and  therefore  there  is  little  provision 
for  it. 

At  the  base  or  floor  of  the  mouth  is  the  inferior  maxillary,  or 
lower  jaw  {j,  p.  143.)  It  partakes  of  the  shortness  of  the  bones  of 
the  face.  It  contains  the  only  incisor  teeth  which  cattle  have,  eight 
in  number,  and  six  molar  teeth  on  each  side.  It  goes  back  straight 
to  the  angle,  where  it  turns  to  take  an  upper  direction  towards  its 
joint  with  the  temporal  bone.  The  consequence  of  this  is,  that  the 
muscles,  both  on  the  inside  and  the  outside,  are  small  and  weak. 
Power  is  not  wanted  ;  for  the  grinders  are  little  if  at  all  used  in  the 
first  gathering  and  mastication  of  the  food,  and  the  act  of  rumination 
is  generally  very  leisurely  and  lazily  performed. 

Below  g,  p.  143,  is  seen  the  process  of  this  bone,  round  which  the 
temporal  muscle  is  wrapped,  and  by  which  it  is  moved  ;  and  a  little 
lower  is  the  shallow  cavity  of  the  temporal  bone,  into  which  the 


THE  LIPS.  186 


proper  head  of  this  is  received,  and  with  which  it  forms  a  joint. 
The  ridges  at  either  end  of  this  cavity  ai-e  very  low,  to  allow  more 
latitude  of  motion,  and  admit  of  the  grinding  action  by  which  rumi- 
nation is  principally  characterized.  The  muscle,  being  inserted  so 
near  to  the  joint,  acts  with  great  mechanical  disadvantage  ;  but  it  is 
sufficiently  powerful  for  every  purpose  that  is  required. 

THE    CHEEKS. 

The  outer  walls  of  the  mouth  are  the  cheeks  and  lips.  The  cheeks 
consist  principally  of  muscle,  (the  masseter  and  the  buccinator 
muscles.)  They  are  covered  externally  by  the  skin,  and  lined  by 
the  membrane  of  the  mouth.  There  is  considerable  glandular  sub- 
stance in  their  composition,  and  these  glands  have  distinct  openings 
into  the  mouth,  and  assist  in  supplying  it  with  moisture. 

THE    LIPS. 

The  lips  form  the  anterior  opening  of  the  mouth  ;  they  close  it, 
and  assist  in  gathering  and  retaining  the  food.  They  consist  of  mus- 
cular, glandular,  and  cellular  texture  ;  and  of  much,  in  the  upper  lip 
especially,  condensed  substance  almost  resembling  cartilage.  The 
muscles  give  them  the  power  of  motion,  and  particularly  that  of 
forcibly  seizing  and  compressing  the  food.  This  is  especially  neces- 
sary in  the  ox,  because  there  are  no  upper  front  teeth,  and  for  this 
purpose  also  the  cartilaginous  matter  was  added  to  them,  and  most 
of  all  to  the  upper  lip.  Simple  muscular  substance  would  be  too 
yielding  to  retain  the  grass,  when  it  is  to  be  forcibly  separated  from 
the  stalk  or  root.  On  account  of  this  peculiar  function  of  the  upper 
lip  of  the  ox,  it  is  wide  and  flat,  in  order  that  it  may  be  brought 
better  into  contact  with  herbage,  and  gather  it  in  sufficient  quantities. 

Being  so  much  employed  for  this  purpose,  there  is  a  want  of 
feeling  about  the  lips  of  cattle,  very  diflferent  from  acute  sensitiveness. 
His  muzzle  is  to  be  continually  in  contact  with  the  ground,  among 
smooth  and  rough  herbage — things  pleasing  and  annoying ;  and 
therefore  all  acute  feeling  is  withheld  from  him,  and,  consequently, 
he  is  rarely  seen  using  his  lips  as  substitutes  for  hands,  and  forming 
his  opinion  of  the  objects  around  him  by  the  indications  which  they 
afford  him. 

The  excess  of  glandular  substance  in  the  lips  of  the  ox  is  easily 
accounted  for.  They  not  only  afford  their  share  of  the  natural  mois- 
ture of  the  mouth,  but  are,  from  situation,  form,  and  use,  exposed  to 
various  nuisances.  Insects  continually  crawl  about  the  muzzle,  and 
dirt  and  gravel  accumulate  on  it.  If  the  grass  is  to  be  firmly  held 
between  the  pad  in  the  upper  jaw  and  the  teeth  in  the  lower,  and 
the  upper  lip  must  materially  assist  in  the  firmness  of  the  grip,  it 


186  CATTLE. 


nmst  be  continually  in  contact  with  the  ground,  and  cannot  always 
be  in,  the  cleanest  state.  Nature  has  given  the  best  of  defences 
against  this.  The  outer  covering  of  the  upper  lip  is  tliicldy  studded 
with  glands,  and  a  fluid  can  be  seen  pouring  out  from  them.  If  an 
ox  be  watched,  diops  are  seen  coursing  down  his  muzzle,  and  falling 
on  the  ground.  The  upper  lip,  in  health,  is  always  wet;  the  insect 
cannot  easily  fasten,  nor  dirt  accumulate  ;  or  if  the  one  adhere,  or  the 
other  collect,  the  tongue  is  protruded,  it  passes  over  the  moistened 
surface,  and  all  is  clear  again. 

We  notice  the  secretion  from  these  glands  when  we  form  a  judg- 
ment of  the  animal,  and  the  degree  of  disease.  While  the  muzzle  is 
moist,  i.  e.,  wliile  tlie  natural  secretions  are  going  forward,  there  is 
no  great  constitutional  disturbance,  and  consequently  no  great  dan- 
ger ;  in  proportion  as  that  secretion  is  lessened,  there  is  general 
sympathy  with  some  local  affection ;  and  when  it  becomes  altogether 
suspended,  it  is  an  indication  of  much  universal  derangement.  There 
is  nothing  more  in  this  secretion  than  in  any  other,  but  it  is  easily 
observed,  and  the  changes  in  it  can  be  accurately  marked. 

THE    MEMBRANE    OF    THE    MOUTH. 

This  is  thin  and  delicate,  compared  with  the  external  integument. 
Every  part  of  the  mouth  is  lined  with  it,  and  it  contains  numerous 
glands,  occasionally  rising  into  little  papillae,  from  which  a  consider- 
able portion  of  the  usual  moisture  of  the  mouth  is  derived.  The 
gums  and  the  bars  ai-e  covered  by  this  membrane,  but  they  are  den- 
ser and  less  sensible. 

THE    BARS. 

These  consist  of  a  firm  substance,  of  a  cartilaginous  nature,  adher- 
ing to  the  bones  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  by  numerous  little  cords, 
penetrating  into  these  bones.  They  are  hard  and  adherent,  that  the 
food  may  be  rolled  against  the  palate,  and  formed  into  proper 
masses  for  swallowing,  whether  in  the  first  or  second  mastication. 
The  palate  is  divided  into  numerous  ridges  running  across  the 
mouth,  and  on  the  posterior  edge  of  which  there  is  a  fringed  border, 
consisting  of  papillae  of  much  consistence  and  strength,  and  all 
pointing  backward  ;  so  that  the  food  is  permitted  to  travel  back- 
ward, in  this  process  of  formation  into  pellets,  but  cannot  again  get 
into  the  fore  part  of  the  mouth. 

THE    PAD    ON    THE    ANTERIOR    MAXILLARY    BONE. 

These  bars  are  rather  flat,  harJ,  and  irregular,  and  these  papillae 
at  the  edges  of  the  bars  are  quite  strong.  The  bars  thicken  towards 
the  fore  part  of  the  mouth,  and  there  they  accumulate  into  a  pad,  or 
cushion,  which  covers  the  convex  extremity  of  the  anterior  maxillary 


THE  TEETH  187 


bone.  This  pad  is  of  a  somcAvhat  more  fibrous  and  elastic  nature 
than  the  bars,  and  stands  in  the  place  of  upper  incisor  or  cutting 
teeth.  The  grass  is  collected  and  rolled  together  by  means  of  the 
tongue;  is  firmly  held  between  the  lower  cutting-teeth  and  the  pad, 
the  cartilaginous  upper  lip  assisting  in  this ;  and  then  by  a  sudden 
nodding  motion  of  the  head,  in  which  the  pterigoid  muscles  are  the 
chief  agents,  the  little  roll  of  herbage  is  partly  both  torn  and  L-*t. 

The  intention  of  this  singular  method  of  gathering  the  food,  it  is 
difficult  satisfatorily  to  explain.  It  is  peculiar  to  ruminants,  who 
have  one  large  stomach,  in  which  the  food  is  kept  as  a  kind  of  reser- 
voir until  it  is  ready  for  the  action  of  the  other  storo.achs.  While 
kept  there  it  is  in  a  state  of  maceration,  exposed  to  the  united  in- 
fluence of  moisture  and  warmth,  and  the  consequence  is,  that  a  spe- 
cies of  decomposition  sometimes  commences,  and  gas  is  extricated. 
That  this  should  not  take  place  in  the  natural  process  of  retention 
and  maceration,  nature  possibly  established  this  mechanism  for  the 
first  gathering  of  the  food.  It  is  impossible  that  half  of  that  which 
is  thus  procured  can  be  fairly  cut  through  ;  part  will  be  torn  up  by 
the  roots  ;  many  a  root  mingles  with  the  blades  of  grass  ;  and  these 
have  sometimes  much  earth  about  them.  The  beast,  however, 
seems  not  to  regard  this  ;  he  eats  on,  dirt  and  all,  until  his  paunch 
is  filled. 

That  this  earth  should  be  gathered  and  swallowed,  was  the  mean- 
ing of  this  mechanism.  A  portion  of  absorbent  earth  is  found  in 
every  soil,  sufficient  not  only  to  prevent  the  evil  that  would  result 
from  occasional  decomposition,  by  neutralizing  the  acid  principle  as 
rapidly  as  it  is  evolved,  but  perhaps,  by  its  presence,  preventing 
that  decomposition  from  taking  place.  Hence  the  eagerness  with 
which  stall-fed  cattle,  who  have  not  the  opportunity  of  plucking  up 
the  roots  of  grass,  evince  for  earth.  When  decomposition  commences 
and  the  acescent  principle  begins  to  be  developed,  the  animal  feels 
uneasiness  on  that  account,  and  has  recourse  to  the  earth  ;  and  the 
acid  uniting  itself  to  the  earth,  the  uneasy  feeling  is  relieved,  and  a 
purgative  neutral  salt  manufactured  in  the  paunch.  , 

THE    TEETH. 

The  mouth  contains  the  principal  agents  in  mastication,  the  teeth. 
The  mouth  of  the  ox  when  full  contains  thirty-two  teeth  ;  eight  in- 
cisors in  the  lower  jaw,  and  six  molars  in  each  jaw,  above  and  below, 
and  on  either  side.  The  incisor  teeth  are  admirably  adapted  to  per- 
form their  function.  If  there  be  no  corresponding  ones  opposed, 
but  merely  an  elastic  pad,  they  must  possess  an  edge  of  considerable 
sharpness  in  order  to  perform  this  half-cutting,  half-tearing  pi'ocess. 
With  a  blunt  edge  there  could  be  no  cutting  at  all ;  but  all  the 
grass  would  be  torn  up  by  the  roots,  the  pasture  destroyed,  and  the 
animal  choked  with  earth.     The  part  of  the  tooth  above  the  gum  is 


188 


CATTLE. 


covered  with  enamel,  both  to  produce  and  retain  this  necessary  sharp- 
ness. The  crown  of  the  tooth,  or  that  part  of  it  which  is  above  the 
gum,  presents  a  surface  somewhat  convex  externally,  rising  straight 
from  the  gum  ;  while  inside  the  mouth,  it  has  a  concave  face,  dimin- 
ishing gradually  in  thickness  as  it  recedes  from  the  gum,  and  termi- 
nating in  ,in  edge,  than  which,  in  the  young  animal,  few  scissors  are 
sharp*=r.  The  elastic  nature  of  the  pad  preserves  itself  from  lacera- 
tion ;  but  the  grass  on  which  the  animal  is  browsing,  less  elastic,  is 
partly  cut  through. 

Tiie  molar  teeth  are  as  well  adapted  for  the  mingled  laceration  and 
grinding  of  the  grass.  There  are  two  oblique  surfaces,  those  on  the 
lower  jaw  taking  a  direction  upwards,  and  from  without  inwards,  and 
those  in  the  upper  jaw  slanting  in  an  opposite  direction,  while  the 
surface  of  the  tooth  is  sawed  into  d«ep  grooves.  There  are  three  in 
the  hist  molai-,  the  edges  of  which,  from  cones  of  enamel  sunk  deep 
into  the  substance  of  the  tooth,  are  sharp  nnd  cannot  be  meddled 
with  without  laceration,  and  these  receive  corresponding  projecting 
portions  from  the  opposite  teeth.  From  the  prolonged  although 
leisurely  action  of  machines  like  these,  the  food  is  reduced  to  a  state 
of  extreme  comminution,  that  every  particle  of  nourishment  may  be 
extracted  from  it.  The  ox,  on  whose  flesh  we  subsist,  must  extract 
every  particle  of  matter  which  the  food  contains,  and  therefore  not 
a  fibre  is  seen  in  the  faeces.  The  dung,  except  from  a  stall-fed 
beast,  is  comparatively  of  httle  worth. 


THE    AGE    OF    CATTLE    AS    INDICATED    BY    THE    TEETH. 

When    describing  the  horns  of  cattle  (p.  148,)   we  spoke  of  the 


BIRTH. 


8BC0ND  WEEK. 


THE  TEETH. 


180 


ususal  and  incorrect  method  of  estimating  their  age  by  the  horns. 
Far  surer  maiks  are  presented  in  the  teeth. 


THIRD    WEEK. 

The  mouth  of  the  new-born  calf  presents  an  uncertain  appearance, 
depending  on  the  mother  having  exceeded  or  fallen  short  of  the  ave- 
rage period  of  gestation.  Sometimes  there  will  be  no  teeth  appearing, 
but  generally,  either  two  central  mcisors  will  be  protruding  throuc?h 
the  gums,  or  they  will  have  arisen  and  attained  considerable  bulk.  ° 

About  the  middle  or  close  of  the  second  week,  a  tooth  will  be 
added  on  either  side,  making  four  incisors. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  third  week,  the  animal  will  have  six  tem- 
porary incisors  or  front  teeth. 


MONTH. 


190 


CATTLE. 


At  a  month,  the  full  number  of  the  incisors  will  have  appeared. 
These  are  the  temporary  or  milk  teeth.  The  enamel  covers  the 
whole  crown  of  the  tooth,  but  not  entering  into  its  composition,  and 
the  edge  is  exceedingly  sharp.  The  only  indication  of  increasing  age 
will  be  the  wearing  down  of  these  sharp  edges,  and  the  appearance 
of  the  bony  substance  of  the  tooth  beneath.  The  two  corner  teeth 
will  be  scarcely  up  before  the  centre  teeth  will  be  a  little  worn.  At 
two  months,  the  edge  of  the  four  central  teeth  will  be  evidently 
worn  ;  yet  as  the  wearing  is  not  across  the  top  of  the  tooth,  but  a 
vejy  little  out  of  the  line  of  its  inner  surface,  the  edge  will  remain 
nearly  or  quite  as  sharp  as  before.  At  three  months,  the  six  central 
teeth,  and  at  four  months  the  whole  set,  will  be  worn,  and  the  cen- 
tral ones  most  of  all ;  but  after  the  second  or  third  month,  the  edge 
of  the  tooth  will  begin  to  wear  down,  and  there  will  be  more  of  a 
flat  surface,  with  a  broad  line  in  the  centre. 

About  this  time  a  new  change  will  begin,  but  very  slowly.  The 
central  teeth  will  not  only  be  worn  down  on  their  edges,  but  the 
whole  of  the  tooth  will  diminish,  and  a  kind  of  absorption  will  com- 
mence. There  will  be  little,  but  increasing  space  between  them. 
The  face  of  the  tooth  will  hkewise  be  altered  ;  the  inner  edge  will  be 
worn  down  more  than  the  outer,  and  the  mark  will  change  from  the 
appearance  of  a  broad  line  to  a  triangular  shape.  The  commencement 
of  this  alternation  of  form  and  diminution  of  size  may  be  about  the 
fourth  month,  and  our  cut  gives  a  representation  of  the  two  central 
incisors  at  eight  months.  The  central  teeth  are  now  not  above  half 
the  size  of  the  next  pair,  and  those  are  evidently  lessened. 


SIX  TO  EIGHT  MONTHS.  TEN  MONTHS. 

At   ten   months,    the   process  of  diminution  will  have  extended 


THE  TEETH 


191 


to  the  four  central  teeth,  in    th#   manner  rejnesented  in  the  cut* 


The  spaces  between  them  will  novf 


evident  enousfh. 


TWELVE  MONTHS. 

The  -ast  cut  oives  the  curious  and  diminutive  appearance  of  all 
the  incisors  at  fifteen  months  old.  It  would  appear  difficult  to  ob- 
tain sufficient  food  to  support  good  condition.  It  is  somewhat  so, 
and  it  may  be  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  these  changes  in  the 
teeth,  and  the  difficulty  of  grazing,  that  young  beasts  are  subject  to 
so  many  disorders  from  seven  or  eight  months  and  upwards,  and 
are  so  often  out  of  condition. 

At  fifteen  months  old,  the  corner  teeth  will  not  be  more  than 
half  their  natural  size  ;  the  centre  ones  yet  more  diminished  ;  and  the 
spaces  between  them  almost  equal  to  tlie  width  of  the  teeth.  The 
faces  of  the  teeth  will  be  lengthened  ;  the  triangular  mark  will  di- 
minish, principally  in  the  central  teeth  ;  while  another  more  or  less 
deeply  shaded,  Avill  begin  to  appear  around  the  original  maik. 

All  this  while  the  second  set  of  teeth,  the  permanent  ones,  have 
been  growing  in  their  sockets,  and  approaching  towards  their  gums. 
The  piocess  of  absorption  commences  in  the  whole  milk  tooth,  and 
as  much  in  the  crown  or  body  of  it  as  at  its  root.  The  process  of 
diminution  now  is  confined  to  the  central  teeth,  and  they  gradually 
waste  away  until  they  are  no  larger  than  crow-quills.  About  the 
end  of  eighteen  months,  or  a  little  before,  the  two  central  milk 
teeth  are  pushed  out  or  give  way,  and  the  two  C(!ntral  permanent 
teeth  appear. 

The  cut  gives  the  mouth  at  eighteen  months  old,  the  two  per- 
manent central  incisors  are  coming  up,  and  the  other  six  milk  teeth 
remain.     The  bone  in  front  of  the  lower  jaw  is  taken  away,  in  order 


192 


CATrLE. 


that  the  alveoli,  or  cells  for  the  teeth,  may  be  exposed.  The  second 
pair  of  incisors  have  almost  attained  their  proper  size,  but  not 
their  proper  form.  The  third  pair  are  getting  ready,  but  the  jaw- 
is  not  yet  sufficiently  widened  for  the  development  of  the  fourth 
pair. 


EIQHTEEK  MONTHS. 


TWO  YEARS  PAST. 


The  process  of  absorption  will  still  be  suspended  with  regard  to 
the  two  outside  pairs  of  milk  teeth,  but  will  be  rapid  with  regard 
to  the  second  pair,  and  a  little  after  the  commencement  of  the 
second  year  they  will  disappear.  The  cut  represents  the  two  year 
old  beast,  with  four  permanent  incisors  and  four  milk  teeth. 

Now  the  remaining  milk  teeth  will  diminish  very  fast,  but  show 
no  disposition  to  give  way,  and  at  three  years  old  there  will  be  six 
permanent  incisors,  and  often  apparently  no  milk  teeth  ;  but  if  the 
mouth  is  examined,  the  tooth  that  should  have  disappeared,  and  the 
tooth  that  is  to  remain  until  the  next  year,  are  huddled  together  and 
concealed  behind  the  new  permanent  tooth.  They  are  often  a  source 
of  annoyance  to  the  animal ;  and  the  tooth  whose  turn  it  was  to  go 
must  be  drawn.  The  three  year  old  mouth  then,  as  represented  in 
this  cut,  should  contain  six  permanent  incisors  and  two  milk  teeth. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  fourth  year,  the  eight  permanent  in- 
cisors will  be  up ;  but  the  corner  ones  will  be  small.  The  cut 
gives  a  four  year  old  mouth,  or  perhaps  one  a  month  or  two  after 
four  years ;  so  that  the  beast  cannot  be  said  to  he  full-mouthed,  i.  e., 


THE  TEETH. 


193 


all  the  incisors  fully  up,  until  it  is  five  years  old.  It  will  be  seen, 
however,  in  this  mouth  of  four  years,  that  the  two  central  pairs  are 
beginning  to  be  worn  down  at  the  edges,  and  that  in  a  flat  direction, 
or  somewhat  inclinino-  towards  the  inside. 


THREE  YEARS.  PAST. 


FOUR  YEARS.  PAST. 


At  five  years  old,  the  teeth  are  all  fully  grown,  but  this  mark  has 
extended  over  the  whole  set,  and  all  the  teeth  are  a  little  flattened 
at  the  top  ;  while  on  the  two  centre  ones  there  begins  to  be  a  dis- 
tinct darker  line  in  the  middle,  bounded  by  a  line  of  harder  bone. 

From  this  time  the  age  for  a  year  or  two  can  only  be  guessed  at, 
and  a  great  deal  will  depend  up- 
on the  manner  in  which  the  ani- 
mal is  fed.  The  beast  most  out, 
and  compelled  most  to  use  his 
incisor  teeth,  will  have  them 
•worn  farthest  down.  As  a 
general  rule,  but  admitting  of 
many  exceptions,  at  seven  years 
old,  this  hne  is  becoming  broad- 
est and  more  irregular  in  all  of 
the  teeth;  and  a  second  and 
broader,  and  more  circular  mark 
appears  within  the  centre  of  the 
former  one,  the  most  distinct  in 
the  central,  or  two  central  pairs 
— and  which  at  eight  years  has 
spread  over  the  six  central  inci- 
sors. 

9 


FTVE    YEARS.   PAST. 


194 


CATTLE. 


At  eight  years  a  change  takes  place  which  cannot  be  mistaken. 
The  process  of  absorption  has  again  commenced  in  the  central  inci- 
sors ;  it  is  slow  in  progress,  and  is  never  carried  to  the  extent  seen 
in  the  milk  teeth,  but  is  sufficiently  plain,  and  the  two  central  teeth 
are  evidently  smaller  than  their  neighbors.  A  consideiable  chano-e 
has  also  taken  place  on  the  surface  of  the  teeth ;  the  two  dark  marks 
are  rubbed  into  one  in  all  but  the  corner  teeth. 

At  ten,  the  four  central  incisors   are  diminished  in  size,  and  the 
mark  is  becoming   smaller  and 
fainter.     The  cut  represents  the 
mouth  at  this  age. 

At  eleven,  the  six  central 
ones  are  smaller  ;  and  at  twelve, 
all  of  them  are  very  considera- 
bly diminished  ;  but  not  to  the 
same  extent  as  in  the  young 
beast.  The  mark  is  now  nearly 
obliterated,  except  in  the  cor- 
ner teeth,  and  the  inside  edge 
is  worn  down  to  the  gum. 

The  beast  is  now  getting  old  ; 
the  teeth  continue  to  diminish, 
and  the  animal,  after  fourteen 
or  sixteen  years  old,  is  often 
not  able  to  maintain  full  condi- 
tion. He  must  then  be  partly  ten  years. 
fed,  yet  there  are  many  instan- 
ces in  which  favorite  bulls  last  more  than  twenty  years,  and  cows  of 
the  same  age  who  pasture  with  the  rest  of  the  dairy,  and  give  a  fair 
quantity  of  milk.  Some  writers  have  asserted  that  a  good  cow  will 
continue  good  until  that  age  ;  but  both  in  quantity  and  quality  of 
milk,  as  a  general  rule,  a  good  cow  will  not  continue  to  breed  and 
give  milk  until  twenty  years  old. 

This  method  of  iudcnnor  of  the  acre  of  cattle  bv  the  teeth  is  more 
satisfactory  than  by"*  the  horns,  and  little  imposition  can  be  prac- 
tised, whether  the  animal  be  young  or  old.  From  six  to  nine  we  can 
only  guess  at  the  age  ;  but  we  can  form  a  shrewd  guess,  and  can 
scarcely  be  out  more  than  a  few  months. 

In  the  horn  we  are  subject  to  imposition  ;  we  are  obliged  to  ask 
questions  as  to  the  first  calf;  and,  when  the  animal  gets  old,  the 
rings  often  present  a  c«jnfusion  of  which  the  best  judges  can  make 
nothing. 

The  grinders  will  rarely  be  examined  to  ascertain  the  age  of  a 
beast.  They  are  too  ditHcult  to  be  got  at ;  and  the  same  depen- 
dence cannot  be  placed  upon  them.  The  calf  is  generally  born  with 
two  molar  teeth ;  sometimes  with  thi'ee  in  each  jaw,  above  and  be- 


THE  TONGrE.  195 


low.  The  fourth  appears  about  the  expiration  of  the  eightli  month, 
and  the  fifth  at  the  end  of  the  year,  about  which  ""ime  the  first  mo- 
lar is  shed.  The  second  is  disphiced  at  the  end  of  the  second  year, 
and  so  with  the  rest,  at  intervals  of  a  year  ;  but  the  sixth  molar, 
which  is  from  the  beginning  a  permanent  tooth,  does  not  appear  un- 
til the  sixth  year. 

THE    TONGUE. 

The  tongue  occupies  the  base  of  the  mouth.  It  is  firmly  held  by 
muscles  principally  attached  to  the  os  hyoides,  a  singular  bone  common 
to  it  and  the  larynx.  The  tongue  is  composed  of  the  union  of  these 
muscles,  which  extend  their  fibres  through  every  part  of  it,  and  with 
which  is  intermingled  a  considerable  quantity  of  fatty  matter.  It  is 
covered  by  the  membrane  of  the  mouth,  but  curiously  modified  ; 
it  resembles  more  the  cuticle  or  scarf-skin,  but  the  internal  layer  is 
fibrous  and  sensitive,  and  between  the  two  is  a  soft,  reticulated  sub- 
stance, which  serves  as  a  bed  for  the  papillae,  or  little  eminences 
scattered  all  over  the  tongue,  some  of  which,  at  least,  are  supposed 
to  be  the  terminations  of  the  gustatory  nerve,  or  that  branch  of  the 
fifth  pair  of  nerves  on  which  the  sense  of  taste  depends.  The  use 
of  the  tongue,  generally,  is  to  dispose  of  the  food  between  the 
grinders  during  mastication ;  to  collect  it  afterwards,  and,  by  the  as- 
sistance of  the  bars,  form  it  into  a  pellet  for  swallowing  ;  it  is  also 
the  main  instrument  in  drinking.  The  outer  covering  of  the  tongue 
of  the  ox  is  hard  and  rough.  The  peculiar  way  in  which  the  food 
is  gathered  renders  this  necessary  ;  it  helps  to  collect  the  grass  to- 
gether and  form  it  into  a  roll  before  it  is  brought  between  the  pad 
of  the  upper  jaw  and  the  incisor  teeth  of  the  lower  one ;  it  serves 
to  clean  the  muzzle  from  annoyances  to  which  it  is  exposed  by  means 
of  dirt  or  insects  ;  and  it  likewise  wipes  from  the  nostril  the  filth 
that  is  discharged  from  it  in  various  diseases  of  the  membrane  of  the 
nose  or  the  air  passages,  to  which  the  ox  is  so  subject. 

The  reader  will  remark  the  spur  projecting  from  the  centre  of  the 
body  of  this  bone, /^.  1.  In  some  animals  it  is  from  two  to  three 
inches  in  extent,  and  penetrates  deeply  into  the  root  and  body  of  the 
tongue  ;  and  from  its  sides,  roughened  for  the  purpose,  there  spring, 
through  the  whole  extent  of  the  bone,  powerful  muscles  (the  genio- 
hyo-glossi  muscles,  belonging  to  the  chin,  the  hyoid  bone,  and  the 
tongue),  whose  object  is  to  draw  down  the  tongue  within  the  mouth, 
and  limit  its  action. 

There  is  nothing  about  the  ox  which  requires  confinement  of  the 
tongue ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  has  need  of  one  possessing  an  ex- 
traordinary freedom  of  motion,  and  the  os  hyoides  is  small.  Its 
spur  (1.  p.  196)  is  a  mere  tubercle.  There  is  no  penetration  or  con- 
finement of  the  root  of  the  tongue.     The  muscles  springing  from  it 


196 


CATTLE. 


are  dimiuutive  and  weak,  and  have  little  or  no  power  over  the  bod} 
of  the  tonsfue. 


HYOID    EOXE,     OR    OS    HYOIDES. 


.•   The  s[)ur. 

i.  The  hasis,  or  greater  comu  or  horn. 

3.  The  inferior  lateral  comu. 
3  .The  middle  cornu. 

4.  The  superior  lateral  cornu. 

5.  The  epiglottis. 

6.  The  arytacnoid  cartilage. 


7.  The  thyroid  cartilage. 
8  The  cricoid  cartilage. 
9.  Rings  of  the  trachea. 

10.  The  interposed  ligamentous  substance 

between  the  rings. 

11.  The  Kimac   glottidis,  or  entrance  into 

the  windpipe. 


In  the  hyoid  bone  of  the  ox,  the  muscle  (the  hyo-ghssus-lonffus, 
the  long  muscle  belonijing  to  the  hyoid  bone  and  the  toni^ue)  has 
its  origin  in  an  attachment  to  the  corner  near  the  spur  •  but  there 
are  two  joints  to  give  greater  freedom  of  motion,  and  not  only  so, 
but  the  bifurcation  of  the  superior  lateral  cornu,  swelled  out  into  a 
head  or  tubercle,  has  no  unyielding  cartilaginous  attachment  to  the 
temporal  bone,  and  is  fitted  into  a  curious  socket,  formed  between 
the  mastoid  process  of  the  temporal  bone,  and  a  plate  of  bone  let 
down  on  purpose,  and  in  which  it  plays  loosely,  yet  securely. 

GLOSS-ANTIIFiAX,    BLAIN,   OR    BLACK    TONGUE. 

There  is  a  disease  of  the  tongue  in  cattle,  which,  from  its  sudden 
attack,  fearful  progress,  and  frequently  fatal  termination,  requires  par- 
ticular notice.  The  animal  is  dull,  refuses  food,  and  rumination 
ceases.  A  discharge  of  saliva  appears  from  the  mouth  ;  it  is  at 
first  limpid  and  inoffensive,  but  it  soon  becomes  purulent,  bloody,  and 
exceedingly  fetid  ;  the  head  and  the  neck  begin  to  swell ;  they  be- 
come enormously  enlarged  ;  th3  respiratory  passages  are  obstructed  ; 
the  animal  brea.hes  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  and  is,  in  some 


GLOSS-ANTHRAX,  BLAIN,  OR  BLACK  TONGUE.  197 

cases,  literally  suffocated.  This  is  the  Blain,  or  Gloss-anthrax — 
inflammation  of  the  tongue,  or  black  tongue. 

On  examination,  the  tongue  is  apparently  enlarged,  but  is,  in  fact, 
only  elevated  from  its  bed  between  the  maxillary  bones  ;  and  the 
cause  being  examined,  large  vesicles  or  bladders,  red,  livid,  or  purple, 
are  found  running  along  the  side  and  base  of  the  tongue,  and  particu- 
larly towards  its  anterior  part.  These  bladders  are  strangely  la^id  in 
their  growth  ;  become  of  a  very  great  size  ;  quickly  break  ;  and  form 
deep  alcerations.  Others  immediately  arise  in  their  immediate  neigh- 
borhood, of  similar  character,  but  of  still  larger  size.  Sometimes  the 
animal  dies  in  twenty-four  hours  from  the  first  attack ;  but  at  other 
times  fever  rapidly  succeeds,  of  a  typhoid  or  malignant  kind.  In  a  few 
cases  these  bladders  have  been  found  on  the  upper  part  of  the  tongue, 
and  even  nearer  to  the  top  of  it  than  to  the  frsenum.  The  tongue 
soon  becomes  really  enlarged,  and  particularly  when  the  lateral  or 
inferior  parts  of  it  are  the  seats  of  disease.  General  inflammation  of 
it  speedily  follows,  and  that  part  of  it  on  which  the  ulcers  first 
appeared,  becomes  mortified,  and  may  be  cut  into,  or  cut  away, 
without  the  animal  expressing  the  least  degree  of  pain.  Incisions 
into  the  tongue  are  not  followed  by  blood,  but  they  bring  to  view 
tissues  decomposed  at  some  points,  and  black  at  others,  and  bearing 
the  marks  of  incipient  gangrene. 

The  primary  seat  of  the  disease  is  the  membrane  of  the  mouth 
beneath  or  above  the  tongue.  Dissection  has  proved  the  membrane 
at  the  base  of  the  mouth  to  be  the  pai-t  primarily  concerned. 

Examination  shows  intense  inflammation,  or  even  gangrene  ef  the 
part,  and  also  inflammation  and  gangrene  of  the  oesophagus,  the 
paunch,  and  the  fourth  stomach.  The  food  in  the  paunch  has  almost 
off'ensive  smell ;  that  in  the  manyplus  is  hard  and  dry.  Inflammation 
reaches  to  the  small  intestines,  which  are  highly  inflamed,  with  red 
and  black  patches  in  the  coecum,  colon,  and  rectum.  We  cannot 
speak  with  confidence  as  to  the  cause  of  this  disease :  indeed,  it  is,  in 
a  great  majority  of  cases,  unknown.  We  have  seen  it  at  all  seasons, 
and  under  all  circumstances, — in  stall-fed  cows,  whether  newly 
bought,  or  those  used  to  their  situation  and  in  pasture.  When  it 
becomes  epidemic — when  many  cases  occur  about  the  same  time, 
and  over  a  considerable  extent  of  country,  and  in  town  dairies  as 
well  as  country  ones,  it  is  usually  in  the  spring  or  autumn.  Most 
epidemics  of  an  inflammatory  character  occur  at  those  periods,  for  the 
process  of  moulting  is  then  going  forward,  and  the  animals  are,  to  a 
certain  degree,  debilitated,  and  disposed  to  inflammatory  complaints  ; 
and  these  assume  a  low  and  typhoid,  and  then  a  malignant,^  form, 
much  oftener  and  much  more  speedily  in  cattle  than  in  other  domes- 
ticated animals.  There  appears  to  be  a  deficiency  of  courage  and 
nervous  energy  in  cattle,  compared  with  the  horse,  and  a  consequent 
inabUity  to  contend  with  disease.     This  afi'ords  a  key  to  the  progress 


198  CATTLE. 


and  treatment  of  many  of  the  maladies  to  which  these  animals  are 
subject.  These  epidemics,  although  dependent  on,  and  produced  by, 
some  atmospheric  agency,  required  a  predisposition  in  the  animal  to 
be  afflicted  by  the  disease. 

While  the  blain  sometimes  assumes  an  epidemic  character,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of  its  being  contagious,  and  especially  under  the 
malignant  form.  Tiie  disease  is  not  communicated  by  the  breath  ; 
but  there  must  be  actual  contact.  The  beast  must  eat  from  the  same 
manger,  or  drink  from  the  same  trough,  or  be  in  such  a  situation  that 
the  saliva,  in  which  the  vii-us  seems  to  reside,  shall  be  received  on 
some  abraded  or  mucous  surface.  The  malady  is  readily  communi- 
cated when  animals  graze  in  the  same  pasture.  The  farmer  should 
be  aware  of  this,  and  should  adopt  every  necessary  precaution.  This 
is  one  of  the  maladies  which  may  be  communicated  from  the  brute 
to  the  human  subject.  The  danger,  however,  so  far  as  it  can  be 
ascertained,  is  trifling,  and  easily  avoided  ;  and  a  man  may  attend  on 
a  hundred  of  these  animals  without  injury  :  he  has  to  take  care  that 
the  saliva  or  discharge  from  the  mouth  does  not  touch  any  sore  place,  or 
lodge  upon  the  lips ;  and  if  he  should  fear  that  it  may  have  come 
into  contact  with  any  little  wound  or  sore,  he  has  only  to  apply  lunar 
caustic  over  the  part,  and  there  will  be  an  end  of  the  matter. 

The  treatment  of  blain  is  very  simple  ;  and,  if  adopted  in  an 
early  period  of  the  disease,  effectual  in  a  great  majority  of  cases. 
Blain  is,  at  first,  a  local  malady,  and  the  first  and  most  important 
means  to  be  adopted  will  be  of  a  local  character.  It  is  inBammation 
of  the  membrane  of  the  mouth,  along  the  side  of  and  under  the  tongue, 
and  characterized  by  tlie  appearance  of  vesicles  or  bladders  ;  perhaps 
pellucid  at  first,  but  becoming  red  or  livid,  as  the  disease  advances  ; 
These  vesichs  must  he  freely  lanced  from  end  to  end.  There  will  not 
be  much  immediate  discharge  ;  the  bladder  was  distended  by  a 
substance  imperfectly  organized,  or  of  such  a  glairy  or  thick  nature 
as  not  readily  to  escape.  If  this  operation  be  perfoimed  Avhen  the 
saliva  first  begins  to  run  from  the  mouth,  and  before  there  is  any 
unpleasant  smell  or  gangrenous  appearance,  it  will  usually  effect  a 
perfect  cure.  If  the  mouth  be  examined  four-and-tvventy  hours  after- 
ward, the  only  vestige  of  the  disease  will  be  an  incision,  not  looking 
very  healthy  at  first,  but  that  will  soon  become  so  and  heal. 

If  the  disease  has  made  considerable  progress,  and  the  vesicles 
begin  to  have  a  livid  appearance,  or  perhaps  some  of  them  have 
broken,  and  the  smell  is  becoming  very  offensive,  the  mouth  must  be 
carefully  examined,  and  any  bladders  still  remaining  whole,  or  new 
ones  beginning  to  rise,  must  be  deeply  and  efiectually  lanced,  and 
the  ulcers  washed  half-a-dozen  times  in  the  day,  or  ol\ener,  with  a 
diluted  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime  (a  drachm  of  the  powder  to 
a  pint  of  water.)  By  means  of  a  syringe  or  piece  of  sponge,  this 
may  be  brought  into  contact  with  every  part  of  the  ulcerated  surface 


GLOSS-ANTHRAX,  OR  BLAIN.  199 


In  a  very  short  time  the  unpleasant  smell  will  diminish  or  cease, 
ard  the  ulcers  will  begin  to  assume  a  more  healthy  character! 
When  all  fetor  is  removed,  the  mouth  should  be  bathed  with  a  lo- 
tion composed  of  equal  parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and  water,  or  a 
pretty  strong  solution  of  alum,  and  a  fourth  part  of  the  tincture  of 
catechu. 

This  treatment  will  be  usually  successful  if  the  ulceration  has  not 
assumed  too  much  of  the  gangrenous  character,  and  if  symptomatic 
or  low  fever  has  not  appeared  in  too  intense  a  degree. "  These  are 
very  important  circumstances,  and  should  not  be  passed  lightly  over, 
for  several  of  the  most  fatal  diseases  are  of  comparatively  little  im- 
portance, and  easily  got  rid  of  in  the  early  stage,  and  neglect  pro- 
duces all  the  danger.  The  blain,  although  easily  cured  ^when  at- 
tacked in  its  early  state,  becomes  uniformly  fatal  if  neo-lected. 
In  these  early  stages  of  the  blain,  the  disease  should  not  be\lways 
so  simply  treated,  and  the  mere  lancing  of  the  vesicles  the  only  means 
adopted  ;  but  it  should  be  the  fii-st  thing  done,  and  that  on  which 
there  is  the  greatest  dependence,  as  attacking  the  fountain-head  of 
all  the  after  mischief,  and  getting  rid  of  the  danger  of  suffocation  at 
least. 

The  blain,  suffered  to  take  its  course,  speedily  becomes  connected 
with  fever,  and  that  fever  is  not  long  in  taking  on  a  typhoid  form  ; 
even  then  we  should  certainly  extract  blood.  Four,  or  five,  or  six 
quarts  should  be  taken  away,  according  to  the  size  of  the  beast,  and 
the  urgency  of  the  case;  or  rather  we  would  bleed  until  we  begin 
to  perceive  its  efix3ct  on  the  general  circulation. 

In  addition  to  this,  as  constipation  usually  accompanies  the  com- 
mencement of  fever,  and  is  never  absent  in  cases  of  blain,  we  sliould 
administer  a  purgative — from  a  pound  to  a  pound  and  a  half  of 
Epsom  salts  ;  and  likewise  throw  up  some  laxative  injections. 

^  Let  Epsom  or  Glauber  salts,  or  the  common  culinary  salt,  be 
dissolved  in  simple  water  or  thin  gruel.  They  want  nothing  to  in- 
sure or  increase  their  eflfect. 

The  practitioner  may  not  be  called  in  until  gangrenous  ulcers  fill 
the  mouth,  and  the  membrane  of  the  mouth,  and  the  tongue  itself, 
seem  to  be  sloughing  away  in  pieces ;  ulcers,  perhaps,  have  also  be- 
gun to  appear  externally  beliind  or  under  the  jaw  ;  and,  most  of  all 
to  be  dreaded,  and  frequently  accompanying  the  worst  stages  of 
blain,  ulcers  begin  to  break  out  about  the  feet,  and  particularly  at 
the  junction  of  the  hair  and  the  hoof,  and  threaten  the  loss  of  the 
hoof. 

Chloride  of  lime  must  be  used  from  morning  to  night,  until  the 
gangrenous  character  of  the  ulcers  is  changed,  and  then  the  tinc- 
ture of  aloes,  or  the  tincture  of  myrrh  substituted.  Ulcers  in  any 
other  part,  particularly  about  the  feet,  must  undergo  a  similar 
treatment.     Chloride  of  lime,  the  solution  being  by  degrees  strength- 


£00  CATTLE, 


ened,  will  remove  the  fetor,  and  usually  give  the  ulcer  a  healthy 
surface. 

No  bleeding  will  be  required  here  :  the  stage  of  acute  fever  is 
passed.  Physic  should  be  given — one  dose  at  least,  whatever  is 
the  state  of  the  bowels,  and  even  although  the  diarrhoea  of  typhoid 
fever  should  be  established ;  but,  at  the  san  e  time,  the  system 
must  be  roused- and  supported.  A  double  dose  of  aromatic  powder 
should  accompany  the  physic ;  and,  after  that,  the  gentian,  calum- 
bo,  and  ginger  roots  should  be  regularly  administered  in  powder, 
suspended  in  gruel.  Two  drachms  of  gentian  and  calumbo,  and 
one  of  ginger,  will  constitute  an  average  dose,  and  may  be  repeated 
morning  and  night. 

The  practitioner  should  pay  considerable  attention  to  the  food. 
It  is  not  always  that  the  appetite  fails  in  this  disease ;  nay,  may 
remain  unimpaired  to  the  last ;  but  the  soreness  of  the  mouth 
has  prevented  the  animal  from  eating  or  ruminating.  He  should 
be  fed  with  gruel— some  of  it  always  within  his  reach,  and  he  will 
sip  no  inconsiderable  quantity  of  it.  More  should  be  poured  down, 
or  given  by  the  stomach-pump — the  latter  being  the  better  way  of 
administering  it.  When  poured  down  bodily,  it  will  generally  find 
its  way  into  the  rumen,  and  there  be  retained,  and  in  a  manner 
lost ;  but  when  given  from  the  small  pipe  of  the  pump,  and  not  too 
strongly  forced  on,  it  will  trickle  down  the  gullet,  and  be  likely  to 
flow  on  into  the  fourth,  or  true  digesting  stomach,  and  be  converted 
into  immediate  nutriment. 

This  is  one  of  the  numerous  class  of  diseases,  under  which  the 
animal  either  cannot  labor  a  second  time,  or  to  which  the  constitu- 
tion betrays  an  evident  insusceptibility  for  a  considerable  period. 
Cattle  recovered  from  the  blain  have  been  purposely  subjected  to 
contagion,  without  effect. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  scrape 
the  pustules  with  a  curved  knife,  an  iron  spoon,  or  a  wisp  of  straw, 
after  which  the  part  is  to  be  well  cleaned  by  means  of  a  cloth  steeped 
in  oil.  Once  the  pustules  have  been  removed,  the  tongue  should 
be  touched  every  day  with  a  eloth  steeped  in  water,  to  Avhich  some 
drops  of  arseniciim  have  been  added.  This  plan  will  suffice  in 
most  cases.  If  symptoms  of  the  disease  still  remain,  for  instance,  a 
fetid  state  of  the  breath,  &c.,  acidum  phosphoricum,  alternately  with 
mercurius  solubus,  daily. 

THRUSH  IN  THE  MOUTH. 

There  is  a  disease,  sometimes  epidemic,  especially  in  the  spnng 
and  winter,  when  the  weather  is  unusually  cold  and  wet,  that  may 
be  mistaken,  and  has  been  so,  for  blain.  It  consists  in  the  appear- 
ance of  pustules,  or  sometimes  vesicles,  not  merely  along  the  side 
and  at  the  root  of  the  tonorue,  but  all  over  the  mouth,  and  occa- 


THE  SALIVARY  GLANDS.  201 

sionally  even  on  the  outside  of  the  lips.  These  pustules  break,  and 
minute  ulcers  succeed,  which  may  run  a  little  into  each  other  ;  but 
they  oftener  speedily  heal. 

This  is  very  harmless.  There  is  sometimes  a  slight  degree  of 
fever,  rarely  such  as  interferes  with  the  appetite,  but  never  to  indi- 
cate danger.  The  disease  may  last  ten  days,  a  fortnight,  or  more  ; 
but  gradually  yields  to  mild  doses  of  physic  ;  the  beast  may  thrive 
the  better  afterwards  for  having  got  rid  of  something  that  was  op- 
pressive to  the  constitution. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — This  requires  more  especially  the  em- 
ployment of  aconitum,  and  of  mercurius  vivus.  Acidum  nitri  also  is 
very  effectual,  especially  in  dry  inflammation.  Carho  vegetahilis  is 
specific  in  treating  induration  succeeding  to  inflammation  :  conium, 
lycopodium  and  silicea,  are  also  recommended  in  this  case. 

THE  SALIVARY    GLANDS. 

The  food,  when  first  gathered,  is  rolled  hastily  into  a  pellet,  and 
swallowed,  without  being  mingled  with  much  of  the  moisture  of  the 
mouth  ;  but  the  second  mastication  is  another  affair — the  food  is 
not  only  to  be  thoroughly  broken  to  pieces  and  ground  down,  but 
brought  into  that  softened  and  pultaceous  state,  in  which  it  can  be 
thoroughly  acted  upon  by  the  gastric  juice,  and  digestion  performed. 
The  mouth  is  furnished  with  various  glands,  which  secrete  a  limpid 
fluid  of  a  somewhat  saline  taste,  and  called  the  saliva,  by  which  the 
food  is  thus  softened.  These  are  differently  named,  accordino-  to 
their  situation. 

The  PAROTID  GLAND,  or  the  gland  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  ear, 
is  the  largest  and  most  important  of  them.  It  occupies  the  hollow 
which  extends  from  the  root  of  the  ear  to  the  angle  of  the  lower  jaw. 
It  consists  of  a  vast  number  of  little  glands  connected  by  cellular 
tissue,  each  having  its  minute  duct  to  convey  away  the  fluid  that  is 
secreted,  and  these  ducts  communicating  with  one  another,  and  join- 
ing together  to  form  one  main  branch,  termed  the  parotid  duct, 
through  which  the  united  stream  is  conveyed  into  the  mouth. 

The  following  cut  will  give  the  reader  a  sufficient  notion  of  the 
situation  and  connections  of  this  gland,  and  also  of  the  bloodvessels 
of  the  neck,  and  principal  muscles  of  the  upper  part  of  it. 

1.  The  splenius    (spleen -shaped)    muscle,   occupying    almost    the 

whole  of  the  upper  and  side  part  of  the  neck,  and  extending  from 

the  parietal  ridge,  as  far  down  as  the  fourth  and  fifth  vertebr£e  of 

the  back.     It  arises   by  two  tendons,  one  from  the  atlas,   and  the 

other  from  the  mastoid  process  of  the  temporal  bone  :  it  is  attached 

superiorly  by  tendinous  and  fleshy  fibres  to  the  ligament  of  the  neck, 

and  inferiorly  by  fleshy  fibres   to  the    transverse    processes  of   the 

bones  of  the  neck,  and  the  fore  part  of   the    spine.     There  is  one 

muscle  on  each  side  of  the  neck.     When  they  act  together,  they  erect 
9#  £,.,/.. 


202 


CATTLE. 


and  support  the  head  and  neck  ;  when  either  acts  alone,  it  indines 
the  h'^.ad  and  neck  on  that  side.  It  is  tlie  muscle  on  which,  with 
the  tri^ezius  in  the  next  cut,  the  form  of  the  upper  part  of  the  neck 
principally  depends. 


2.  The  inferior  oblique  (taking  an  oblique  direction).  A  deeper- 
seated  muscle  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  from  the  first  to  the  second 
bones  of  the  neck. 

3.  The  superior  oblique.  Likewise  a  deeper-seated  muscle,  from 
the  ftrst  bone  of  the  neck  to  the  portion  of  the  parietal  bone  which 
forms  the  poll.  Both  acting  together,  they  elevate  the  head  ; — either 
acting  alone,  turns  it  on  that  side.  When  the  hand  is  passed 
down  the  side  of  the  cervical  ligament,  even  near  to  the  poll,  the 
muscles  of  the  neck  will  be  observed  to  become  rapidly  thicker. 
Tiie  thickness  of  the  neck  of  the  ox  lies  principally  below  ;  so  it  is 
in  idtnost  all  ruminants,  and  particularly  in  the  deer  tribe  ;  there- 
fore these  muscles  are  large. 

4.  A  portion  of  the  levator  humeri  (the  elevator  of  the  arm),  re- 
versed. It  arises  by  an  aponeurotic  expansion  from  the  parietal 
ridge,  and  by  a  strong  tendon,  from  the  mastoid  process  of  the 
temporal  bone,  and  from  the  four  first  bones  of  the  neck,  and,  con- 
necting itself  with  the  ligament  of  the  neck,  it  goes  to  the  muscles 
of  the  shoulders  and  the  upper  bone  of  the  arm.  When  the  head 
is  made  a  fixed  point,  one  of  them,  acting  alone,  draws  forward  the 
shoulder  and  arm ;  when  the  shoulder  is  made  the  fixed  point,  it 


THE  SALIVARY  GLANDS.  203 

turns  the  head  and  neck ;  or,  the  shoulder  still  being  the  fixed  point, 
and  both  acting,  the  head  is  depressed.  This  muscle  is  large  in  the 
ox.  It  is  united  with  the  rliomhoideus  longus  (the  long  rhomboid- 
shaped  muscle),  and  evidently  contributes  mateiially  to  the  forma- 
tion of  those  sub-cutaneous  muscular  fibres,  whicli  are  substituted 
for  the  proper  sub-cutaneous  muscle  of  the  neck.  Inferiorly  it  is  di- 
vided into  three  branches — the  one,  thin  and  inferior,  goes  to  the 
anterior  extremity  of  the  sternum ;  the  second,  at  the  inferior  part  of 
the  arm,  furnishes  a  tendon,  which  is  inserted  with  that  of  the  ijector- 
alis  transversus  (the  transverse  muscle  of  the  chest)  into  the  hu- 
merus ;  while  the  superior  division  giv^es  a  strong  tendinous  expan- 
sion, which  spreads  over,  and  loses  itself  upon  the  outer  face  of  the 
humerus. 

5.  The  suh-scapulo-hyoidus,  (belonging  to  the  substance  under- 
neath the  shoulder,  and  to  the  hyoid  bone,)  from  the  shoulder-blade 
to  the  body  of  the  hyoid  bone,  to  drav,^  backward  that  bone. 

6.  The  sterno-maxllaris,  (belonging  to  the  sternum  and  the  lower 
jaw,)  from  the  cartilage  in  front  of  the  chest  to  the  angle  of  the 
lower  jaw.  It  is  attached  to  the  lower  jaw  by  means  of  a  bifur- 
cated tendon.  The  posterior  branch  is  inserted  into  the  masseter 
muscle,  on  which  it  acts  as  a  kind  of  bridle  in  the  usual  process  of 
mastication,  and  more  particularly  as  tending  to  limit  the  lateral 
and  grinding  motion  of  that  muscle.  The  other  goes  on  and  attach- 
es itself  to  the  buccinator  muscle,  immediately  to  be  described.  Thus 
they  act  quite  as  much  as  muscles  of  mastication,  as  thev  are  con- 
cerned in  the  bending  of  the  head,  and  perhaps  more  so.  The  whole 
muscle  may  act  on  the  head — the  separate  poitions  of  it  on  the 
function  of  mastication. 

7.  The  stemo-hyoidus,  from  the  sternum  to  the  hyoid  bone,  and  to 
the  thyroid  cartilage  of  the  larynx,  in  order  to  draw  the  bone  and 
the  cartilage  downward  and  backward. 

8.  The  masseter,  (masticating  muscle)  covers  the  greater  part  of 
the  side  of  the  superior  maxillary  bone,  and  is  inserted  into  the  rough- 
ened surface  of  the  angle  of  the  lower  jaw  bone. 

9.  The  buccinator  (the  muscle  by  which  the  human  being  blows 
the  trumpet)  extends  from  the  alveolar  borders  of  the  upper  and 
under  grinders,  over  the  cheeks,  and  the  membrane  of  the  mouth, 
and  to  the  angle  of  the  mouth.  It  tightens  the  membrane  of  the 
mouth,  and  thus  principally  assists  in  the  disposal  of  the  food  in  the 
mouth,  and  also  in  retracting  the  angle  of  the  mouth. 

10.  A  branch  of  the  os  hyoides. 

11.  The  stylo-maxillaris,  from  the  styloid  process  of  the  occipital 
bone  to  the  angle  of  the  lower  jaw,  to  draw  it  backward,  and  to  open  it. 

12.  That  portion  of  the  stylo-maxillaris,  which  is  called  the  digas- 
tric, is  seen  here. 

13.  The  little  flat  muscle,  the  stylo-hyoideus,  is  here  represented; 


204  CATTLE. 


extending  from  the  styloid  process  of  tlie  occipital,  to  the  angle  of 
the  corner  of  the  hyoid  bone,  and  its  action  confined  to  the  retracting 
and  elevating  of  the  corner  of  that  bone. 

14.  A  muscle  of  the  larynx. 

15.  The  parotid  gland,  (the  gland  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  ear,) 
the  greater  part  of  it  reversed,  to  show  the  parts  benccitli. 

16.  The  parotid  duct,  winding  within  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and 
escaping  again  at  a  very  little  distance,  and  in  company  with  the 
maxillary  vein  and  artery  climbing  up  the  cheek,  and  perforating  the 
buccinator  muscle,  in  order  to  discharge  its  contents  into  the  mouth. 
The  orifice  is  generally  found  about  the  third  or  fourth  grinder.  The 
situation  of  the  duct  should  be  carefully  observed,  for  obstruction 
and  fistula  of  this  duct  is  frequent  in  the  ox,  and  operations  of  various 
kinds  may  be  necessary. 

IV.  The  submaxillary  gland  (the  gland  under  the  jaw).  Its  com- 
mencement is  almost  as  high  as  that  of  the  parotid,  but  behind  it ; 
thence  it  reaches  down  to  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  there  begins  to 
take  a  direction  forward  between  the  branches  of  the  lower  jaw,  and 
terminates  in  a  duct  which  opens  on  either  side  of  the  fraenum  of  the 
tongue. 

18.  LympJiatic  glands  (glands  containing  lymph)  of  the  neck. 

19.  Lymphatic  glands  found  between  the  branches  of  the  lower 
jaw;  neither  belonging  to  the  submaxillary  nor  sublingual  glands, 
but  often  confounded  with  them.  They  become  inflamed  and  «»nlarged 
in  almost  every  case  of  catarrh.  These  glands  often  enlarge  to  a 
very  considerable  degree,  suppurate,  and  troublesome  ulcers  ensue. 

20.  The  jugular  vein  (the  vein  of  the  throat),  previous  to  its 
bifurcation,  and  pointing  out  the  usual  situation  for  bleeding. 

21.  The  submaxillary  vein,  returning  the  blood  from  the  tongue, 
the  mouth,  and  the  face  generally.  It  is  scarcely  lost  at  all  within 
the  angle  of  the  lower  jaw,  but  runs  along  the  edge  of  it,  and  might 
be  opened  with  advantage  in  some  affections  of  the  face.  When  it 
emerges  from  the  jaw,  and  begins  to  climb  up  the  face,  it  is  found 
between  the  parotid  duct  and  the  submaxillary  arter3\ 

22.  The  larger  branch  of  the  juguhir  above  the  bifurcation  receiv- 
ing the  blood  from  the  upper  part  of  the  face  and  neck,  and  also 
from  the  brain.  It  is  so  near  to  the  parotid  gland,  that  it  would  be 
difficult  to  bleed  from  it  there.  The  bifurcation  is  sometimes  com- 
pletely covered  by  the  parotid  gland.  We  must  therefore  be  always 
content  with  bleeding  below  the  division  of  the  jugular  in  cattle. 

23.  The  temporal  vein  (the  vein  of  the  temple). 

24.  The  trunk  of  the  parotidean  and  auricular  veins  (the  veins  of 
the  parotid  gland  and  of  the  ear). 

25.  The  internal  jugular,  and  particularly  its  passage  below  tlie 
subscapulo-hyoideus  muscle.  The  path  of  the  internal  jugular  by 
the  side  of  the  carotid^  under  that  muscle,  is  marked  by  a  dotted  line. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  PAROTID  GLAND  209 

26.  The  carotid  ratery,  where  it  emerges  from  below  the  subsca- 
pulo-hyoideus  muscle.  Its  path  under  that  muscle,  by  the  side  of 
the  internal  jugular,  is  also  marked  by  a  dotted  line,  showing  the 
connection  of  the  two  vessels.  The  figures  are  placed  at  the  spot 
where  it  would  be  most  convenient  to  operate,  if  circumstances  should 
require  that  a  ligature  should  be  passed  round  the  carotid. 

27.  The  submaxillary  artery  given  off  from  the  main  trunk,  and 
pursuing  its  course  anteriorly,  to  bury  itst^f  beneath  the  angle  of  the 
lower  jaw.  It  is  afterwards  seen  emerging  from  under  that  bone  in 
company  with  the  sub-maxillary  vein,  and  the  parotid  duct,  and  be- 
ing the  lowest  of  the  three. 

28.  The  temporal  artery,  at  which  the  pulse  may  often  be  conve- 
niently examined. 

29.  One  of  the  arteries  supplying  the  parotid  gland. 

30.  The  eighth  pair  of  nerves,  or  the  motor  organic  nerves. 

31.  One  of  the  linyuales,  or  nerves  by  means  of  which  the  tongue 
is  moved. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  PAROTID  GLAND. 

The  parotid  gland,  in  cattle,  is  very  subject  to  inflammation.  Con- 
tusions or  wounds  of  the  part  are  frequent  causes  of  inflammation ; 
and  this  gland,  in  the  ox,  sympathizes  strongly  with  catarrhal  affec- 
tions of  tlie  upper  air-passages.  A  bullock  will  rarely  have  hoose, 
accompanied  by  any  degree  of  fever,  without  some  enlargement  and 
tenderness  of  the  parotid.  There  is  scarcely  an  epidemic  among 
cattle,  one  of  the  earliest  symptoms  of  which  is  not  swelling  of  the 
head  and  neck.  These  swellino-s  under  the  ear  are  o-uides  on  which 
we  place  much,  and  perhaps  the  gi'eatest,  dependence,  in  judging  of 
the  intensity  and  danger  of  the  disease  ;  and  particularly,  and  most 
of  all  to  be  dreaded,  its  tendency  to  assume  a  typhoid  form.  These 
enlargements  have  been  confounded  with  strangles,  but  through 
want  of  proper  examination  of  the  parts. 

Inflammation  of  the  parotid  gland  is  accompanied  by  heat  a«d 
tenderness  of  the  part,  and  which  render  the  beast  unwilling  to  eat, 
or  to  ruminate ;  and  sometimes  by  so  much  swelling  as  to  threaten 
immediate  suffocation.  This  is  one  of  the  varieties  of  swelling  about 
the  head  of  cattle  characterized  by  the  expressive  term  of  strangullion. 

The  swelling  of  the  parotid  gland  extends  oftener  and  more  rap- 
idly downward  than  upward,  reaching  the  throat,  and  pressing  upon 
all  the  neighboring  vessels.  When  there  is  much  swelling,  suppura- 
tion and  abscess  are  at  hand,  and  should  be  encouraged  by  fomenta- 
tion ;  and  as  soon  as  any  motion  of  pus  can  be  detected,  the  tumor 
should  be  freely  lanced ;  the  fluid  will  readily  escape,  and  the  ab- 
scess fill  up :  but  if  the  swelling  be  suffered  to  burst,  ulcers  will  be 
formed,  exceedingly  difficult  to  heal,  and  that  will  too  often  run  on 
to  gangrene.     It  is  a  singular  thing  that  while  the  flesh  of  the  ox  i* 


208  CATTLE. 

one  of  the  supports  of  human  life,  and  no  food  contributes  more  or 
healthier  nutriment,  there  is  no  animal  in  wliich  grangrenous  ulcers 
are  so  frequently  formed,  or  in  which  they  are  so  corroding  and  ma- 
lignant. From  inflammation,  apparently  of  only  an  inconsiderable 
portion  of  the  parotid  gland,  we  have  known  ulcers  of  the  most 
offensive  character  extend  from  ear  to  ear,  and  expose  the  most  im- 
portant vessels  of  the  upper  part  of  the  neck. 

This  inflammation  is  to  be  combated  by  fermentations,  cataplasms, 
and,  occasionally,  blisters,  in  the  early  stage  ;  bleeding  and  physick- 
ing must  be  resorted  to,  according  to  the  degree  of  general  fever ; 
and  after  the  ulcer  has  formed,  the  chloride  of  lime  must  be  used  to 
arrest  the  progress  of  gangrene,  and  the  tincture  of  aloes  to  heal  the 
part  after  the  bursting  of  the  abscess.  Mild  purgatives  will  be  very 
useful,  each  of  them  containing  aromatic  or  tonic  medicine. 

Obstruction  to  the  passage  of  the  saliva  will  sometimes  occur  in 
the  duct ;  swelling  wnll  ensue  at  the  place  of  obstruction ;  and,  at 
length,  the  fluid  continuing  to  accumulate,  will  burst  the  vessel,  and 
a  fistulous  ulcer  will  be  the  result. 

THE     SUBMAXILLARY     GLANDS. 

The  second  source  of  the  saliva  is  from  the  shmaxlUary  glands. 
The  bulk  of  the  maxillary  gland  is  seen  at  fig.  IV  (p.  202,)  even 
posterior  to  the  parotid  gland.  The  direcaon  within  the  branches 
of  the  jaw  is  also  plainly  traced  ;  and  there  is  a  continuation  of 
glandular  substance,  or  a  collection  of  little  glands  extending  on 
either  side  within  the  branches  of  the  jaws,  the  common  duct  from 
all  of  which  pierces  through  the  substance  at  the  root  of  the  tongue, 
and  opens  on  either  side  of  the  fraenum. 

The  termination  of  the  duct  is  particularly  evident  in  cattle,  and  is 
very  curiously  constructed ;  a  cartilaginous  plate  doubles  upon  itself, 
and  serves  as  a  covering,  or  roof,  to  the  little  teat-like  orifice  of  the 
duct. 

BARBS    OR    PAPS. 

Occasionally  in  catarrh,  and  oftener  when  the  membrane  of  the 
mouth  generally  is  somewhat  mflamed,  and  the  pustules  of  which 
we  have  spoken  appear  in  various  parts,  these  little  projections  like- 
wise become  red  and  enlarged,  and  the  beast  is  said  to  have  the 
BARBS  or  PAPS.  To  bum  or  cut  them  away,  converts  temporary 
inflammation  into  serious  and  even  gangrenous  ulcers.  A  dose  of 
physic,  and,  if  necessary,  a  moderate  bleeding,  will  usually  cause  the 
barbs  to  disappear,  or,  if  a  httle  disposition  to  ulceration  should  ap- 
pear, an  alum  wash  will  be  all  that  is  needed. 

In  cases  of  deep  abscess,  which  sometimes  appear  under  the 
tongue,  from  inflammation,  or,  much  oftener,  from  improper  treai* 
ment,  the  chloride  of  lime  will  be  the  first  and  chief  application.  It 
must  be  injected  to  the  very  bottom  of  the  sinuses,  and  continued  to 


THE  PHARYNX.  207 


be  used,  several  times  in  the  day,  while  any  unpleasant  smell  is  per- 
ceived.    To  this  will  succeed  the  alum- wash,  or  an  infusion  of  catechu. 

THE    SUBLINGUAL    GLANDS. 

The  third  source  of  the  saliva  is  from  numerous  glands  scattered 
over  the  membrane  of  the  mouth  generally,  but  principally  collected 
at  its  base  and  under  the  tongue,  and  therefore  called  the  suUingual 
glands.  They  consist  of  small  collections  of  glands,  with  minute 
openings  into  the  mouth,  but  which  also  a  little  enlarge,  when  there 
is  tendency  to  inflammation  in  the  mouth.  No  harm  can  ever  come 
of  these  gigs  and  bladders,  if  let  alone.  On  every  part  of  the 
cheeks  and  lips  these  little  glands  are  found  ;  and  the  quantity  of 
saliva  obtained  from  all  of  these,  especially  when  they  are  excited  to 
action  in  mastication  or  rumination,  is  very  great. 

THE  VELUM  PALATI,  OR  SOFT  PALATE. 

Advancing  to  the  back  part  of  the  mouth,  we  find  a  curtain  di- 
viding it  from  the  pharynx,  or  ca\ity  immediately  above  the  gullet. 
It  is  formed  of  a  continuation  of  the  membrane  of  the  mouth  ante- 
riorly, of  that  of  the  nose  posteiiorly,  and  it  hangs  from  the  cres- 
cent-formed border  of  the  palatine  bone,  p.  144.  It  reaches  from 
the  palate  almost  to  the  entrance  into  the  gullet  and  the  windpipe. 
The  food  is  returned  to  the  moutli  in  the  natural  process  of  rumina- 
tion, and  also  in  vomiting,  whicli  occurs  very  rarely  indeed,  or,  at 
least,  regurgitation  from  the  rumen,  for  we  much  doubt  whether 
true  vomiting,  or  the  return  of  food  from  the  fourth  stomach,  was 
ever  seen  in  cattle. 

THE    PHARYNX. 

The  food  having  passed  beneath  this  soft  palate,  reaches  a  funnel- 
shaped  cavity  between  the  mouth  and  the  gullet  and  windpipe.  It 
is  lined  by  a  membrane  full  of  little  glands,  that  pour  out  a  viscid 
fluid,  by  which  the  pellet  of  food  is  covered  and  prepared  to  pass 
more  readily  down  the  gullet.  Within  this  membrane  are  muscles 
that  contract  with  considerable  force  ;  and  the  food,  almost  beyond 
the  action  of  the  tongue,  is  seized  by  these  muscles  and  forced  along 
the  pharynx  to  the  entrance  into  the  CDSophagus  or  gullet. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE  ANATOMY   AND   DISEASES   OF  THE   NECK 
AND   CHEST. 


In  order  to  understand  the  proper  conformation  of  these  parts, 
differing  so  materially  as  they  do  in  a  kindly  feeding  and  an  unprof- 
itable beast,  and  differing,  too,  so  much  in  various  breeds,  each 
excellent  in  its  way,  we  must  have  recourse  to  two  anatomical  plates, 
which  include,  as  much  as  possible,  the  whole  muscular  system 
of  the  ox. 


1.  OrhicuJaris  oris  (the  rinor-shaped  muscle  of  the  mouth).  This 
muscle  is  found  within  the  border  of  the  lips,  and  constituting  their 
principal  substance  and  thickness,  forming  two  semi-ovals,  and  united 
together  at  the  angle  of  the  lips.  It  is  large  and  mixed  witli  ten- 
dinous fibres,  because  the  lips  are  poweifully  employed  in  the  ox  in 
grasping  and  assisting  in  tearing  off  the  food, 

2.  The  elevator  of  the  iqjper  lip,  and  angle  of  the  nose. 

3.  The  Zygomaticus  (arising  near  the  yoke-formed  arch  under 
•which  the  temporal  muscle  passes)  lies  along  the  middle  of  the  side 
of  the  face  ;  it  also  assists  in  the  motion  of  the  lips,  and  particularly 
in  retracting  the  angle  of  the  lips.  This  is  particularly  developed  in 
the  ox,  for  it  has  much  to  do  in  tb3  gathering  of  his  food. 


ANATOMY  OF  THE  NECK  AND  CHEST. 


4.  The  depressor  of  the  hwer  eyelid,  a  sub-cutaneous  muscle  of 
considerable  development. 

5.  The  depressor  of  the  loiver  lip,  lying  along  the  side  of  the 
lower  jaw,  and  going  to  the  inferior  lateral  part  of  the  under  lip,  and 
to  separate  the  under  lip  from  the  upper. 

6.  Ohicularis  palpebrarum  (the  ring-shaped  muscle  of  the  lids), 
employed  in  keeping  the  eyes  open.  When  this  muscle  ceases  to  act 
the  eye  closes,  from  the  elasticity  of  the  cartilage  at  the  edge  of  the  lid. 

v.  The  levator  of  the  up>per  eyelids. 

8.  The  depressor  of  the  ear.  This  is  a  singular  muscle,  lying  im- 
mediately under  the  skin ;  running  over,  and  attached  to,  the  parotid 
gland  ;  and  reaching  from  the  outer  side  of  the  root  of  the  ear,  down 
to  the  very  larynx.  The  ears  of  the  ox  have  an  extensive,  although 
slow  motion,  and  have  to  defend  the  eyes  from  insects. 

9.  The  different  portions  of  the  levator  humeri,  through  the  whole 
of  their  course :  tlve  upper  part  of  this  muscle  was  described  at  p. 
202.  On  this  muscle  the  form  of  the  lower  part  of  the  neck  princi- 
pally depends,  and  it  is  much  more  developed  in  some  breeds  than 
in  others.  However  thin  and  deer-like  we  may  wish  the  neck  of  the 
ox  to  be  at  the  setting  on  of  the  head,  we  look  for  plenty  of  muscles 
at  the  bottom  of  it,  or  we  shall  have  neither  strength  nor  substance 
in  any  part  of  the  animal. 

10.  The  sterno-maxillaris,  described  at  p.  203. 

11.  The  trapezius  (the  quadrilateral  muscle).  This  muscle  is 
united  with  the  rhomhoideus  longus,  and  forms  the  exterior  muscular 
layer  immediately  below  the  integument,  and  above  the  splenius. 
(See  p.  202,  and  also  the  next  cut).  On  this,  and  on  the  splenius 
beneath,  depends  the  form  of  the  upper  part  of  the  neck  and  withers, 
and,  in  some  breeds,  the  cervical  portion  of  it  is  particularly  fine. 
The  combined  action  of  the  whole  is  to  raise  the  scapula,  and  draw 
the  bone  forward. 

12.  The  latissimus  dorsi,  so  called  from  its  extent,  being  the  widest 
muscle  of  the  back,  and  reaching  over  the  Avhole  of  the  upper  and 
side  part  behind  the  scapula,  of  which  bone  it  is  a  muscle,  drawing  it 
backward,  and  elevating  its  inferior  extremity.  It  is  thin ;  much 
adipose  matter  insinuates  itself  between  the  fibres,  and  gives  it  a  false 
appearance  of  substance. 

13.  The  pectoral  is  major  (the  larger  pectoral  muscle).  It  is  the 
only  pectoral  muscle,  properly  so  speaking,  for  the  minor  is  not 
found.  There  are,  however,  the  transverse  pectorals,  of  Avhich  we 
shall  give  an  account  presently.  From  the  ensiform  cartilage  at  the 
termination  of  the  true  ribs,  and  even  from  the  external  oblique 
muscle  of  the  belly,  it  extends  forward,  strongly  attaching  itself  to 
the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  pieces  of  the  sternum,  and  also  the  lesser 
tubercle  of  the  humerus,  and  the  inner  part  of  the  end  of  tho  scapula 
or  shoulder-blade.     It  draws  the  scapula  into  an  upright  position. 


210  CATTLE. 


14.  The  external  oblique  muscle  of  the  abdomen.  It  extends  over 
the  Avhole  of  the  inferior  and  lateral  portions  of  the  bell}',  giving  sup- 
port to  the  contents  of  the  belly  ;  assisting  in  the  evacuation  of  the 
faeces  and  urine,  and  also  in  that  of  the  fcetus,  and  being  a  valuable 
auxiliary  in  the  process  of  breathing.  Although  it  has  not  so  much 
work  to  perform  as  an  auxiliary  muscle  in  respiration,  or  in  support- 
ing the  abdomen  and  its  contents  in  the  shocks  to  which  they  are 
occasionally  exposed  in  rapid  motion,  yet  this  and  the  other  oblique 
muscle  have  a  great  deal  more  constant  labor  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed in  supporting  the  immense  weight  of  the  distended  paunch, 
and  sometimes  powerfully  contracting  upon  it.  These  oblique  mus- 
cles, which  constitute  the  flank  pieces  of  various  kinds  in  the  carcass, 
are  of  considerable  thickness,  and  never  overlooked  by  the  butcher 
when  examining  a  beast. 

15.  The  glutcBUS  maximuSf  or  great  muscle,  belonging  to  the  but- 
tock, principally  constitues  the  anterior,  middle,  and  external  parts  of 
the  haunch.  Its  attachments  are  very  complicated,  and  its  action  is 
what  its  situation  at  once  indicates,  either  to  flex  and  bring  forward 
the  hind  limbs  upon  the  loins,  or  the  pelvis  and  loins  upon  the  hind 
limbs,  accordingly  as  either  is  made  a  fixed  point.  This  muscle  is 
the  one  which  is  most  largely  concerned  in  propelling  animals  for- 
ward, and  is  in  cattle  a  large  one,  though  relatively,  for  no  great 
speed  is  usually  required  from  them,  nor  any  sudden  and  powerful 
flexion  of  the  Umbs.  This  muscle  is  brought  into  view  in  cattle  by 
raising  the  aponeurotic  expansion  of  the  fascia  lata,  and  it  is  con- 
cealed superiorly  and  posteriorly  by  the  prolongation  of  the  semi- 
tend  inosus  muscle. 

16.  Fascia  lata.  This  muscle,  although  we  have  termed  it  a  fascia 
or  envelope,  is  a  fleshy  and  tendinous  expansion  over  the  whole  of 
the  anterior  and  external  surface  of  the  thigh,  w^hence  it  spreads  be- 
low the  stifle.  Its  chief  use  is  to  strengthen  the  muscles  beneath  ; 
but,  besides  this,  it  assists  the  extension  of  the  leg  on  the  thigh  and 
the  flexion  of  the  thigh  on  the  pelvis.  Its  fleshy  portion  is 'divided 
mto  two,  and  its  tendinous  expansion  extends  over  all  the  muscles  of 
the  quarters,  and  unites  with  the  principal  flexor  muscle  of  the 
thigh — the  adductor  magnus.  This  is  a  part  of  the  beast  where  we 
look  for  plenty  of  muscle  and  fat,  and  we  can  hardly  find  quarters 
too  long  and  too  well  developed. 

17  and  18.  The  biceps  femoris,  or  two-headed  muscle  of  the  thigh. 
It  flexes  the  leg  upon  the  thigh,  and  contributes  to  turn  the  leg  in- 
ward. In  cattle,  it  has  no  spinal  prolongation,  and  it  does  not 
»iscend  beyond  the  ischial  tuberosity. 

19.  The  foramina  belonoincr  to  the  sub-cutaneous  abdominal  vein. 

The  preceding  numbers  refer  to  the  cut,  page  202  ;  those  follow* 
ing,  to  the  cut  on  the  next  page. 


ANATOxMY  OF  THE  NECK  AND  CHEST. 


211 


1.  The  splenius  lying  under  the  trapezius,  and  aheady  described 
in  p.  201. 


2.  The  anterior  portion  of  the  trapezius,  extending  along  the  edge 
of  the  cervical  ligament,  from  the  back  of  the  head  to  within  the 
superior  part  of  the  scapula,  and  raising  the  scapula  and  carrying  it 
forward,  already  alluded  to,  p.  209. 

3.  The  rhomhoideus  longus  (the  long  diamond-shaped  muscle).  It 
has  already  been  stated  that  this  muscle  in  the  ox  is  united  with  the 
trapezius,  and  forms  the  superior  and  lateral  part  of  the  neck,  extend- 
ing from  the  head  to  the  withers.  It  varies  materially  in  different 
breeds.  Nothing  can  be  so  unlike  as  the  ridge,  or  crest  of  the  neck, 
in  the  Devon  and  the  Galloway,  or  even  the  Devon  and  the  Here- 
ford. In  all  cattle  it  is  proportionally  large,  because  the  neck  gene- 
rally was  designed  to  be  fleshy  ;  a  fine  crest,  the  neck  gradually 
thickening  below,  may  be  considered  as  a  point  of  beauty  in  cattle. 

4.  The  serratus  unticus  major  (the  anterior  part  of  the  great  saw- 
shaped  muscles,  or  those  by  Avhich  the  shoulder  of  the  animal  is 
attached  to  the  trunk,  and  the  weight  of  the  trunk  supported), 
'i'hese  muscles  of  the  shoulder  are  numerous  in  the  ox,  and  are  sepa- 
rated from  eacli  other  by  cellular  and  adipose  matter.  The  strength 
of  attachment  which  rapid  motion  renders  necessary,  is  not  wanted, 
but  the  accumulation  of  the  flesh  and  fat  goes  on  wherever  it  can. 
The  serrated  muscles  are  seen  prolonged  upon  the  side  behind  the 
shoulder. 

5.  One  of  the  insertions  of  the  levitor  humeri. 

6.  A  portion  of  the  serratus  muscle,  occupying  the  posterior  and 
inferior  portion  of  the  neck,  where  tlie  neck  emerges  from,  or  enters 
into  the  chest.  It  consists  of  the  union  of  two  or  three  muscles,  par- 
ticularly one  lying  across  upon  the  first  ribs.  It  is  composed  of  a 
long  band,  larger  posteriorly,  which  takes  its  origin  about  the  middle 


212  CATTLE. 

of  the  fourth  rib,  and  spreads  forward  over  the  three  .interior  ribs, 
and  even  to  the  vertebrae  of  the  withers. 
*?.  Another  head  of  the  levoAor  humeri. 

8.  The  tricejys  extensor  hrachii,  or  three-headed  extensor  of  the 
arm.  Two  of  the  portions  are  here  seen,  the  one  from  the  external 
part  of  the  shoulder  to  the  outer  tubercle  on  the  bone  of  the  arm, 
and  also  on  the  outer  parts  of  the  elbow ;  and  the  other  occupying 
the  angular  space  between  the  shoulder-blade  and  the  bone  of  the 
arm  ;  the  muscle  has  its  principal  lower  insertion  in  the  posterior  and 
superior  part  of  the  elbow.  There  is  a  third  portion  on  the  interior 
of  the  scapula  and  the  bone  of  the  arm.  The  action  of  the  compound 
muscle  is  evidently  to  bind  the  humerus,  or  bone  of  the  arm,  on  the 
shoulder-blade,  and  thus  to  extend  and  throw  forward  the  lower 
part  of  the  limb.  These  muscles  are  small  in  cattle  for  these  evident 
reasons,  that  strength  is  not  required  in  the  ox,  as  a  beast  of  burden, 
and  his  speed  never  taxed  to  any  extent ;  and  because  needless  flesh 
here  would  be  precisely  in  the  part  where  it  is  coarsest  and  least 
valuable.  The  diminution  of  muscle  on  the  external  part  of  the 
shoulder,  and  the  accumulation  of  cellular  and  fatty  matter  between 
it  and  the  trunk,  being  the  reverse  of  what  we  find  in  the  horse,  are 
apt  illustrations  of  the  skill  with  which  every  animal  is  adapted  to 
his  destiny. 

9.  Another  portion  of  the  serrated  muscles,  belonging  to  the  back 
and  ribs.  These  are  principally  muscles  of  respiration  ;  they  elevate 
the  ribs,  and  bring  them  forward,  and  thus  expand  the  chest,  and 
assist  in  the  process  of  inspiration.  This  is  a  small  muscle,  because 
from  the  idle  life  of  the  ox,  his  breathing  is  seldom  hurried. 

10.  The  internal  oblique  muscle,  or  inner  layer  of  muscles  constitu- 
ting the  walls  of  the  belly.  These  muscles  assist  the  external  ones  in 
supporting  the  weight  of  the  belly,  and  compressing  its  contents. 
Being  placed  somewhat  farther  back  than  the  external  oblique,  they 
will  offer  less  assistance  in  respiration,  but  contribute  more  to  the 
expulsion  of  the  urine  and  faeces. 

17.  The  iliacus  iidernus,  or  inner  and  larger  muscle  belonging  to 
the  flanks,  occupies  the  upper  and  inner  space  between  the  spine  and 
the  thigh.  Its  use  is  to  bring  the  thigh  under  the  haunch,  which,  in 
the  slow-motioned  ox,  is  rarel}'^  performed  with  much  rapidity  or  force, 
therefore  it  is  not  large.  It  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  aitch 
bone  and  the  upper  part  of  the  refund. 

18,  19,  20.  '\^\iQ  glutcei  muscles  he  on  the  upper  and  outer  parts 
of  the  haunch,  and  the  good  or  deficient  form  of  the  quarters  de- 
pends upon  them.  They  are  valuable  in  the  ox,  as  indicating  the 
general  muscularity  of  the  system.  This  may,  however,  be  carried 
too  far.  Contributing  to  the  formation  of  the  rump,  and,  in  a  cer- 
tain degree,  of  the  round,  they  constitute  some  of  th(;  tenderest  and 
most  valuable  parts  of  the  ox. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  NECK.  213 

21.  The  ijyriform  (pear-shaped)  muscle,  found  within  the  cavity 
of  the  pelvis,  and  on  the  inside  of  the  aitch-bone  and  the  rump. 
Large  and  composed  of  s»ft  fibres,  ia..the  ox.  Its  office  is  to  assist 
in  the  extension  of  the  haunch. 

22.  Levator  caudce  hrevis  (the  shorter  elevator  of  the  tail).  It  is 
used  in  common  with  other  muscles  to  move  the  tail. 

23.  Levator  caudce  longus  (the  long  elevator  of  the  tail). 

24.  Depressor  caudce,  by  which  the  tail  is  pressed  upon  the  haunch, 
and  that  sometimes  with  a  force  that  would  scarcely  be  thought 
possible. 

25.  The  intertransversal  musclea,  whose  oblique  fibres  nin  from  the 
base  to  the  edge  of  the  bones  of  the  tail,  through  its  whole  extent, 
and  by  which  the  lateral  motions  are  effected.  By  the  union  of  all 
of  these  muscles  the  tail  is  made  a  most  eflfective  instrument  in 
driving  away  or  destroying  thousands  of  w^inged  blood-suckers,  by 
which  the  animal  would  otherwise  be  tormented. 

26.  The  rectus  femoris,  or  straight  muscle  of  the  thigh,  runs  along 
the  whole  of  the  anterior  portion  of  the  thigh,  from  the  ihum  to  the 
patella,  or  knee-cap.  It  is  a  very  conspicuous  muscle  in  the  round, 
and  helps  to  extend  the  thigh  and  advance  the  haunch. 

27.  The  vasti  muscles,  so  called  from  their  occupying  the  greater 
part  of  the  thigh.  The  three  branches  are  commonly  distinct,  but 
they  are  not  much  developed,  for  they  have  not  the  work  to  do. 
The  butcher  thinks  that  there  is  a  great  difference  between  the 
round  of  the  beast  that  has  worked,  and  of  another  that  has  not ; 
and  he  is  right,  for  nothing  tends  so  much  to  the  development  of 
tne  muscular  system  as  regular  exercise. 

28.  The  great  adductor,  or  bringer  forwan^  of  the  thigh.  This 
muscle  occupies  the  external  face  of  the  posterior  part  of  the  thigh. 
It  rises  as  high  as  the  spine  of  the  sacmm,  and  reaches  the  anterior 
portioH  of  the  leg  by  three  different  branches  or  heads,  and  thence  is 
called  the  triceps  adductor  femoris.  It  bends  the  leg  upon  the  thigh; 
it  carries  the  Avhole  limb  backward  in  the  act  of  kicking,  and  also 
assists  in  elevating  tlie  fore  part  of  the  body  in  preparing  for  a  leap. 
It  is  large,  reaching  along  the  spine,  to  the  very  angle  of  the  croup. 

29.  The  semitendinosus,  so  called  from  its  half-tendinous  construc- 
tion, constitutes,  with  the  next  muscle,  the  posterior  and  internal  face 
of  the  haunch  and  thigh.     It  is  a  flexor  or  bender  of  the  leg. 

30.  Adductor  tibice  longus  (the  long  adductor,  or  bringer  forward 
of  the  thigh  ;)  sometimes  called,  from  its  construction,  the  semi-tendi- 
nosus  muscle.     It  is  a  flexor  or  bender  tlie  leg. 

The  reader  is  now  prepared  to  enter  with  us,  so  far  as  we  can 
without  being  too  diyly  anatomical,  into  the  consideration  of  the  form 
and  structure  of  the  neck  and  trunk  of  cattle  ;  and  particularly  as  con- 
nected with  the  production  of  milk  while  living,  and  beef  w^hen  dead. 


214  CATTLE. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    NECK. 

The  neck  of  the  ox  (see  cut  of  skeleton,  p.  143,)  is  composed  of 
seven  bones. 

In  cattle  there  is  great  shortness  of  the  neck  generally — shortness, 
and  yet  magnitude  of  every  bone — the  avoidance  of  smooth  surface, 
and  the  springing  out,  above  and  below,  and  on  one  side  and  the 
other,  of  processes  which  are  long,  broad,  and  roughened  ;  and  there 
is  not  an  ehistic  movement  about  the  whole  of  this  part  of  the  animal, 
and  the  neck  is  level.  The  intention  of  nature  is  plain  enough  in  the 
construction  of  the  neck  of  the  ox.  All  these  widened,  roughened, 
tuberous  bones  are  for  the  attachmemt  of  muscles — the  accumulation 
of  flesh.  True,  these  are  not  the  prime  parts  of  the  animal,  but  we 
see  the  commencement  of  the  principle.  The  animal  was  destined  to 
produce  flesh  and  fat  for  our  nourishment 

A  little  of  the  arched  form  of  the  neck  mny  be  traced  in  the  Devon 
ox,  and  is  no  detriment  either  to  his  appearance  or  his  actual  value  ; 
although  common  consent  seems  to  have  determined  that  the  line 
from  the  horns  to  the  withers  should  scarcely  deviate  from  that  of 
the  back.  Is  this  trait  of  the  thorough  bred  horse,  here  appearing 
in  cattle,  connected  with  that  activity  in  work  for  which  this  breed 
has  ever  been  unrivaled  ?  The  Sussex,  and  Hereford,  and  Pembroke, 
and  Welsh,  generally,  and  all  the  Scots,  horned  or  hornless,  have,  occa- 
sionally at  least,  this  rising  of  the  forehand  ;  and  we  must  be  per- 
mitted still  to  retain  this  form  of  the  neck,  as  one  of  the  chai*ncteristics. 
and  no  defect,  of  the  middle-horns,  who,  in  particular  districts,  and 
for  particular  purp.  ses,  w\M  still  remain  and  be  duly  valued,  when 
the  triumph  of  the  short-horns  is  complete  in  then'  universal  diffusion. 

We  must  go  even  a  'ittle  further  than  this,  and  claim  the  rising 
crest  as  an  essential  ponit  in  every  good  bull  of  every  breed.  It  shall 
be  what,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  it  perhaps  is,  nothing  more  than  an 
accumulation  of  fat  about  the  ligament  of  the  neck,  and  the  splenius 
and  complejius  muscles  ;  but  it  indicates  that  broad  base  of  muscle 
beneath — that  bulk  and  strength  of  neck,  so  indicative  of  the  true 
mascuhne  character.  We  refer  to  the  Devon  bull  (p.  17),  to  whom, 
indeed,  it  belongs,  in  virtue  of  his  breed — and  we  refer,  also,  to  the 
West  Highland  bull  (p.  42),  who  has  the  same  claim  to  it,  and  also, 
to  the  Old  Craven  bull  (p.  82)  ;  to  the  New  Leicester  bull  (p.  88), 
and  even  to  the  short-horned  bull  (p  109). 

The  actual  bulk  of  muscle,  however,  in  any  part  of  the  o#  is  not  so 
much  greater  as  the  extended  and  roughened  surfaces  would  lead  us 
to  imagine.  The  head,  or  the  insertion  of  the  muscle,  may  be  spread 
over  the  whole  surface  of  the  bone  ;  but  we  have  not  proceeded  far 
in  our  examination  of  that  muscle,  before  we  fine?  that  its  structure, 
at  least  in  the  unworked  ox,  is  not  compact  muscle.     A  great  deal 


THE  PROPER  FORM  AND  SIZE  OF  THE  NECK.  215 

more  cellular  and  adipose  substance  is  inserted,  not  only  between  the 
different  muscles,  but  between  the  little  divisions  or  bundles  of  which 
sach  muscle  is  composed  ;  and,  in  fact,  between  the  very  fibres  of 
the  muscle  itself;  and  that  to  so  great  an  extent,  that  in  a  well-fatted 
beast  it  is  almost  impossible  to  meet  with  any  simple  muscle.  The 
whole  is  marbled — streaks  of  fat,  enclosed  in  cellular  substance,  run 
parallel  with  almost  every  fibre.  This,  at  least,  is  the  case  with  many 
breeds  of  cattle,  and  always  is  in  good  cattle. 

THE  PROPER  FORM  AND  SIZE  OF  THE  NECK. 

Some  breeds  of  cattle  used  to  be  remarkable  for  the  fineness  of  the 
neck  at  the  setting  on  of  the  head,  and  this  was  considered  to  be  one 
of  their  greatest  beauties,  as  well  at  the  surest  proof  of  the  purity  of 
their  breed  :  this  was  long  the  case  with  the  Devon  ox,  and  when,  by 
chance,  this  fineness  extended  to  the  withers,  and  "was  accompanied 
by  a  shoulder  almost  as  obhque  as  that  of  a  thorough-bred  horse,  the 
animal  was  imagined  to  be  perfect.  He  w^as  a  beautiful  and  a  valua- 
ble animal,  and  particularly  as  this  fineness  of  the  neck  and  withers  was 
usually  contrasted  in  him  by  a  deep  breast  and  an  open  and  wide 
bosom.  That  man,  nevertheless,  deserved  the  thanks  of  the  Devon- 
shire breeders,  who  first  by  selection  and  breeding  a  little  diminished 
this  fineness  of  the  neck ;  he  did  not  impair  the  general  beauty  of  the 
animal ;  he  did  not  lessen  his  activity  in  the  slightest  degree  ;  but  he 
increased  his  size,  and  his  aptitude  to  fatten  too. 

In  the  Ayrshire  cow  of  tw^enty  years  ago  we  had  a  specimen  of 
the  extent  to  which  a  clean  neck  and  throat  might  be  carried,  without 
perhaps  diminishing  at  all  the  milking  properties  ;  but  materially  to 
the  disadvantage  of  the  farmer  when  her  milking  days  were  past. 
This  prejudice  in  favor  of  the  small  neck  led  the  farmers  even  to 
prefer  their  dairy-bulls  according  to  the  feminine  aspect  of  their  heads 
and  necks.  Perhaps  the  disparity  of  size  which  then  existed  between 
the  northern  and  southern  cattle  might  somewhat  justify  them  in 
choosing  the  smallest  variety  of  the  new  breed.  This,  however, 
having  passed  over,  the  Ayrshire  breeder,  still  fond  of  a  neck  finely 
shaped  toward  the  head,  has  produced  one  a  great  deal  thicker 
toward  the  shoulder  and  breast ;  and  this  not  interfering,  as  expe- 
rience has  now  taught  him,  with  the  milking  qualities  of  the  animal, 
while  it  gives  aptitude  to  fatten  afterAvards. 

Mr.  Marshall,  describing  the  New  Leicester  breed,  speaks  of  the 
forend  being  long,  but  light  to  a  degree  of  elegance  ;  the  neck  thin, 
the  chap  clean,  and  the  head  fine ;  the  shoulders  remarkably  fine  and 
thin,  as  to  bone,  hut  thickly  covered  with  Jlesh,  and  not  the  S7nallest  pro- 
tuberance  of  bone  diacernihle.  He  also  thus  speaks  of  Mr.  Fowler's 
celebrated  bull  Shakspeare  : — His  head,  chap,  and  neck  were  remark- 
ably fine  and  clean  ;  but  his  chest  was  extraordinarily  deep,  and  hia 
brisket  down  to  his  knees. 


216  CATTLE. 


The  short-horn,  in  his  state  of  greatest  and  most  unnatural  fatness, 
has,  or  ought  to  have,  a  tendency  tp  fineness  of  the  neck,  at  the 
setting  on  of  the  head,  however  that  neck  may  rapidly  increase  in 
bulk,  and,  in  the  opinion  of  some,  give  too  great  a  weight  to  the  fore- 
quarters. 

The  splenius,  trapezius,  and  complexus  muscles  are  those  which  have 
most  to  do  with  the  usual  bulk  of  the  superior  part  of  the  neck,  and 
with  that  which  'it  may  attain  under  the  process  of  fattening.  The 
splenius  may  be  seen  at  fig.  1,  p.  202  ;  the  trapezius  is  depicted  at 
fio-.  11,  p.  208  ;  and  the  rhomboideus  longus,  with  which  the  trapezius 
is  united,  is  brought  into  view  at  fig.  3,  p.  211.  The  complexus  major 
is  situated  under  them.  Some  of  it  rises  as  low  as  the  transverse 
processes  of  the  four  or  five  first  bones  of  the  back,  and  from  all, 
except  the  two  higher  of  the  bones  of  the  neck.  It  therefore  has  its 
greatest  bulk  about  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  and  on  it,  and  the 
fatty  matter  connected  with  it,  the  form  and  bulk  of  that  portion  of 
the  neck  depend.  Its  office  is  to  raise  the  neck,  and  elevate  and 
protrude  the  head.  The  form  of  the  under  part  of  the  neck  is  much 
influenced  by  the  levator  humeri,  which  is  seen  at  fig.  4,  p.  202  ;■  fig. 
9,  p.  208  ;  and,  still  lower  down,  by  the  pectoral  muscle,  for  there 
is  but  one  in  the  ox,  seen  at  fig.  13,  p.  208.  Considering,  however, 
the  laxity  of  the  muscular  fibre  in  the  ox,  and  the  interposition  of  fatty 
matter  in  every  part  of  the  muscular  system,  this  muscle  can  acquire 
considerable  bulk,  and  is  that  on  which  the  form  and  bulk  of  the 
neck,  at  its  lower  and  more  important  part,  principally  depend. 
Whatever  may  have  been  said  of  fine  and  small  necks,  the  neck  must 
rapidly  thicken  as  it  descends,  or  we  shall  have  a  general  lightness 
of  carcass,  which  will  render  the  animal  comparatively  worthless  as  a 
grazing  beast. 

There  are  other  muscles,  however,  placed  under  the  complexus — 
viz.,  the  complexu.*  minor,  and  the  large  and  small  7'ecti,  and  oblique 
muscles,  concerned  in  the  lateral  motion  of  the  head,  which  have 
considerable  size,  and  contribute  materially  to  the  bulk  of  the  neck. 

THE  ARTERIES  OF    THE    NECK. 

Before  we  leave  the  neck,  we  should  describe  the  principal  blood- 
vessels which  are  brought  into  view  in  the  cut  at  p.  202.  Tlie  caro- 
tid artery  (fig.  26,  pp.  202  and  205,)  and  some  of  its  ramifications, 
are  the  only  arteries  that  we  could  bring  into  view.  The  carotid 
artery  on  either  side  proceeds  from  the  heart — escapes  from  the 
chest  with  the  windpipe  and  the  gullet;  and,  approaching  the 
windpipe,  and  clinging  to  its  posterior  surface,  climbs  the  neck, 
supplying  the  different  parts  with  blood,  until  it  arrives  at  the  larynx, 
where  it  divides  into  two  branches — the  external  and  internal.  The 
extenial  spreads  over  the  fa3e  and  external  part  of  the  head — the 


-THE  ARTERIES  OF  THE  NECK.  il7 

internal  enters  the  skull  and  is  the  main  source  whence  the  braia 
derives  its  arterial  blood.  Smaller  streams  are  sent  to  the  brain  from 
the  vertebral  arteries,  which,  defended  and  partly  concealed  in  canals 
formed  for  them  in  the  bones  of  the  neck,  after  having  fed  the  neigh- 
boring parts,  likewise  expend  the  remainder  on  the  brain,  entering 
by  the  great  foramen,  through  which  the  spinal  chord  escapes.  A 
third  and  smaller  branch,  leaving  the  main  trunk  high  up  in  the  neck, 
sends  a  small  vessel  to  the  brain,  under  the  title  of  the  occipital 
artery. 

We  can  conceive  of  very  few,  if  any,  cases  in  which  it  would  be 
either  necessary  or  advisable  to  bleed  from  an  artery  in  the  ox.  The 
temporal  is,  in  a  manner,  out  of  reach  ;  and  the  artery  of  the  fore- 
head is  so  defended  by  its  bony  canal,  as  not  to  be  easily  got  at ; 
besides  which,  in  bleeding  from  an  artery,  there  will  always  be 
extreme  difficulty  either  in  getting  the  quantity  of  blood  wanted,  on 
account  of  the  contraction  of  the  vessel,  or  of  stopping  the  haemor- 
rhage, if  the  blood  flow  freely. 

There  is  one  circumstance  which  will  strike  every  one,  and  that  is 
— except  the  larger  vessels  immediately  from  the  heart — the  sraallness 
of  the  arteries,  and  the  largeness  of  the  veins.  What  enormous  ves- 
sels are  the  jugulars  and  milk  veins  !>  And  what  a  torrent  of  blood 
will  pour  from  them  if  a  large  incision  be  made !  We  shall  bear 
this  in  mind  as  we  pass  on. 

The  submaxillary  artery  has  been  already  described  (fig.  27,  pp. 
202  and  205,)  pursuing  its  course  anteriorily,  to  bury  itself  beneath 
the  angle  of  the  lov/er  jaw,  whence  it  speedily  emerges  again,  and 
close  to  the  angle  of  the  jaw.  This  should  be  remembered  when 
we  are  feeling  for  the  pulse.  It  occurs  under  some  circumstances  of 
disease,  that  it  is  difficult,  or  impossible,  to  ascertain  the  pulse  at  the 
jaw,  and  should,  therefore,  teach  us  to  go  at  once  to  the  side  when 
there  is  any  difficulty  about  the  jaw. 

The  temporal  artery  is  much  larger,  because  it  has  a  great  surface 
to  ramify  upon  and  to  feed :  the  figure  will  point  out  the  spot  at 
which  the  pulse  will  usually  be  most  conveniently  felt. 

The  anterior  auricular  artery  is  also  large.  It  supplies  not  only  the 
anterior  muscles  of  the  ear,  but  also  the  temporal  muscle,  deeply 
lodged  in  the  temporal  fossa.  The  pulse  may  be  very  readily  felt  by 
means  of  it,  and  perhaps  more  readily  than  from  the  temporal. 

The  superciliary  artery,  escaping  from  the  foramen  above  the  orbit 
of  the  eye,  is  a  considerable  one.  It  forms  two  branches,  of  which 
one  goes  to  the  root  of  the  horn,  and  contributes  to  the  vascularity 
and  nutriment  of  that  part.  The  other  descends  downward,  on  tho 
side  of  the  face. 

The  occipital  artery  is  small,  the  brain  of  the  ox,  which  a  branch 
of  this  artery  supplies,  being  small  compared  to  his  size. 

10 


218  CATTLE. 


THE    VEINS    OF    THE    NECK. 

We  here  recognize  the  two  jugulars  which  a:  e  found  in  most  ani- 
mals. The  smaller,  or  internal  jugular  (fig.  25,  p.  202,)  is  deeply 
seated,  and  no  practical  advantage  can  be  taken  of  it,  save  the 
knowledge,  that  in  inflammation  and  loss  of  the  external  vein  from 
bleeding,  the  return  of  the  blood  from  that  side  of  the  face  and  head 
■would  be  facilitated  by  the  internal  one,  for  nature  is  wonderfully 
ingenious  in  making  provision  for  carrying  on  the  circulation. 

BLEEDING. 

The  jugular  is  the  usual  place  for  bleeding  cattle.  The  vessel  is 
easily  got  at ;  is  large,  and  can  scarcely  be  missed  by  the  clumsiest 
operator.  The  strap  round  the  neck,  in  order  to  raise  the  vein, 
should  be  dispensed  with.  It  presses  equally  on  both  sides  of  the 
neck ;  and  serious  consequences  are  sometimes  produced  by  this 
sudden  stoppage  of  the  return  of  so  much  of  the  blood  by  the  vein. 
If  the  vein  be  pressed  upon  by  the  finger,  a  little  below  the  intended 
bleeding  place,  it  will  become  sufficiently  prominent  to  guide  any 
one. 

The  instrument  should  be  the  lancet,  but  one  considerably  broad- 
shouldered.  A  large  vessel  will  bear  a  proportionably  larger  orifice  ; 
and  the  good  effect  of  bleeding  depends  more  on  the  rapidity  with 
which  the  blood  is  abstracted,  than  on  the  quantity  drawn.  The 
cowherd,  or  the  owner  of  cattle,  would  do  better  to  confine  himself 
to  the  stick  and  fleam,  for  the  hide  of  the  ox  is  so  thick,  and  the  edge 
of  the  lancet  is  so  apt  to  turn,  that  it  requires  a  little  experience  and 
tact  to  bleed  with  certainty  and  safety. 

In  the  abstraction  of  blood,  and  especially  at  the  commencement 
of  a  disease,  or  while  inflammation  runs  high,  the  rule  is  to  let  the 
blood  flow  until  the  pulse  plainly  indicates  that  the  circulation  is 
afl*ected.  All  other  bleeding  is  worse  than  useless — it  is  sapping  the 
-strength  of  the  constitution,  and  leaving  the  power  of  the  enemy  un- 
impaired. 

Bad  necks  in  cattle,  after  bleeding,  are  not  common.  They  must 
be  treated  by  fomentations  and  emollient  lotions  at  first,  and  when 
these  fail,  the  application  of  the  iieated  iron  to  the  hps  of  the  wound  ; 
or,  in  very  bad  cases,  the  introduction  of  setons,  or  the  injection  of 
the  zinc- wash  into  the  sinus. 

BLEEDING    PLACES. 

If  any  aff"ection  of  the  mouth,  or  the  nasal  passages,  should  de- 
mand local  bleeding,  cattle  may  be  bled  from  the  palatine  vessels  or 
veins  of  the  mouth.  If  the  operator  cuts  but  deep  enough,  plenty 
of  blood  will  be  obtained   -The  cephalics  before,  and  the  aaphena 


THE  MILK,  OR  SUB-CUTANEOUS  ABDOMINAL  VEIN.  219 

veins  behind,  are  proper  places  for  bleeding — and  some  say  tbe 
milk,  or  sub-cutaneous  abdominal  vein.  This  last  vein  is  large 
enough  for  the  speedy  abstraction  of  any  quantity  of  blood  in  the 
shortest  period  ;  but  the  jugular  is  the  most  convenient  bleeding- 
place  in  particular  cases  ;  and  the  only  question  is,  whether  any  local 
advantage  can  be  obtained  by  opening  the  sub-cutaneous  abdominal. 

THE    MILK,  OR  SUB-CUTANEOUS    ABDOMINAL  VEIN*. 

This  vein  first  comes  into  view  under  the  abdomen,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  cartilaginous  circle  of  the  false  ribs.  It  emerges 
from  two  foramina,  or  openings,  (the  situation  of  which  is  pointed 
out  by  fig.  18,  p.  208.)  It  approaches,  on  either  side,  the  mesian 
line  of  the  abdomen,  and  burying  itself  between  the  thighs,  it  pur- 
sues its  course  towards  the  inguinal  vein.  Sometimes  it  unites  with 
the  superpubian  vein,  and  occasionally  gives  a  bran-ch  to  the  sub- 
pelvian.  In  the  neighborhood  of  the  cartilaginous  circle,  it  presents 
two  branches,  the  one  external  and  superior,  the  other  internal  and 
inferior.  The  first  springs  from  various  cutaneous  ramifications, 
reachinof  even  to  the  thorax,  and  anastomosino-  or  communicatinof 
with  some  of  the  sub-cutaneous  veins  of  the  thorax.  The  other 
branch  penetrates  within  the  cartilaginous  circle,  and  goes  to  unite 
with  a  principal  division  of  the  veins  of  the  sternum. 

This  milk  vein  is  derived  from  numerous  ramifications  from  the 
walls  of  the  chest,  as  far  anteriorly  as  the  breast  bone,  and  taking  in 
some  of  the  external  intercostals.  It  belongs  to  the  respiratory  sys- 
tem more  than  to  any  other.  As  it  advances  posteriorly  along  the 
abdomen,  it  creeps  by  the  side  of  the  udder,  or  of  the  scrotum,  and 
empties  itself  partly  into  the  inguinal,  and  partly  into  the  sub-pelvian 
vein.  As  it  travels  along  the  abdomen  and  the  groin,  it  receives 
some  muscular  and  cutaneous  fibres,  but  nothinof  more.  Its  use  is  to 
assist  m  returmng  the  blood  from  these  parts,  and  also  by  this  round- 
about journey,  and  these  curious  connections,  to  establish  a  free  com- 
munication between  the  anterior  and  posterior  cavce,  or  the  blood 
which  is  returned  from  the  anterior  and  posterior  portions  of  the 
body.  This  may  be  a  matter  of  considerable  consequence  in  certain 
states  of  the  constitution. 

Should  we  have  recourse  to  the  milk  vein  in  order  to  obtain  the 
benefit  of  local  bleeding  ?  We  should  in  cases  of  abdominal  inflam- 
mation, for  we  should  unload  the  vessels  of  the  walls  of  the  abdo- 
men, and  probably  assist  in  unloading  some  of  the  internal  vessels 
too,  and  we  should  abate  the  danger  of  peritoneal  inflammation. 
For  yet  stronger  reasons,  we  should  have  recourse  to  it  in  thoracic 
affection,  for  most  of  the  smaller  ramifications  which  compose  this 
vein  come  from  the  thorax,  and  there  is  greater  sympathy,  and  there 
are  more  numerous  connections  between  the  outer  and  inner  portion 
of  the  wall  of  the  chest  than  of  the  abdomen.     But  if  we  were  to 


220  CATTLE. 


have  recourse  to  bleeding  from  this  vein,  in  garget,  or  any  inflamma- 
tory affection  of  the  udder,  we  should  betray  our  ignorance  of 
anatomy  ;  and  still  more  so  siiould  we  do  it  if  we  regarded  this  milk 
vein  as  having  any  further  connection  with  the  secretion  of  milk, 
than  as  being  a  kind  of  measure  or  standard  of  the  power  and  de- 
velopment of  the  vascular  system,  with  the  existence  of  which  the 
secretion  of  milk,  as  well  as  the  secretions  generally,  is  essentially 
connected. 

THE    HEART. 

"We  can  trace  the  veins  in  their  course  down  the  neck  to  the  heart, 
and  the  arteries  working  their  way  upward  from  the  heart,  the  great 
source  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood.  The  lungs,  on  either  side, 
are  inclosed  in  a  separate  and  perfect  bag  ;  each  lung  has  its  distinct 
pleura  or  membrane.  The  heart  lies  between  these  two  membranes  ; 
and,  more  perfectly  to  cut  off  all  injurious  connection  between  the 
lungs  and  the  heart — all  communication  of  disease — the  heart  is 
inclosed  in  a  pleura,  or  bag,  of  its  own,  termed  the  pericardium. 
This  membrane  closely  invests  the  heart ;  it  supports  it  in  its  situa- 
tion, prevents  too  great  dilatation  when  it  is  gorged  with  blood,  and 
too  violent  action  when  it  is  sometimes  unduly  stimulated.  Notwith- 
standing the  confinement  of  the  heart  by  the  pericardium,  it 
beats  violently  enough  against  the  ribs  under  circumstances  of  unu- 
sual excitation  ;  and  were  it  not  thus  tied  down,  it  would  often 
bruise  and  injure  itself,  and  cause  inflammation  in  the  neighboring 
parts. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  PERICARDIUM. 

This  membrane  is  occasionally  the  seat  of  obscure,  unsuspected, 
and  fatal  diseases.  The  cow  is  a  greedy  animal ;  she  swallows  al- 
most everything  that  comes  in  her  way.  She  will  pick  up  large 
pins,  needles,  and  nails.  A  friend  of  ours  lost  a  cow  from  some 
disease  which  neither  he  nor  the  medical  attendant  understood.  On 
opening  her,  a  piece  of  wire,  two  inches  in  length,  was  found  stick- 
ing in  the  pericardium,  and  which  had  produced  extensive  ulceration 
and  gangrene  there. 

We  are  strongly  inclined  to  believe  that  these  diseases  occur 
oftener  than  has  been  suspected ;  these  pointed  substances,  which 
in  other  animals  take  very  strange  but  generally  comparatively  harm- 
less courses,  in  order  to  work  their  way  out  of  the  body,  select  in 
the  cow  this  dangerous  and  fatal  course.  The  proprietors  of  cattle, 
and  of  cows  particularly— for  the  cow  chiefly,  or  almost  alone,  has 
this  strange  propensity — should  be  careful  as  to  the  manner  of  feed- 
ing them. 


THE  HEART.  221 


THE    HEART. 

In  all  animals  the  existence  of  life  is  connected  with,  or  rather 
dependent  upon,  the  constant  supply  of  fresh  arterial  blood.  There 
is  not  a  secretion  that  can  be  performed,  or  a  function  discharged,  or 
a  single  motion  accomplished,  without  the  presence  of  this  vital  fluid. 
The  heart  is  the  grand  engine  by  which  it  is  circulated  through  the 
frame.  Tt  is  a  large  muscle,  or  combination  of  muscles,  totally 
independent  of  the  will,  and  working  without  cessation  and  without 
fatigue,  from  the  first  day  of  existence  un{il  its  close.  It  is  the 
forcing  pump  by  which  the  vital  current,  having  completed  its  course, 
is  made  to  flow  again  and  again  to  every  part  of  the  system.  It 
consists  of  four  cavities,  surrounded  by  muscular  Avails,  which,  stimu- 
lated by  the  organic  nerves,  can  contract  upon,  and  drive  out,  and 
propel  forward,  the  fluid  which  they  contain,  and  then,  left  to  them- 
selves, can  instantly  re-assume  their  open  dilated  state  by  their  inhe- 
rent power  of  elasticity. 

A  portion  of  the  blood  has  completed  the  circulation,  and  enters 
the  upper  cavity  of  the  heart — the  right  auricle — where  it  accumu- 
lates as  in  a  reservior,  until  there  is  enough  to  fill  the  second  and 
lower  cavity  on  the  same  side — the  right  ventricle — when  the 
auricle  suddenly  contracts  and  drives  the  blood  forward  into  the 
ventricle.  But  this  blood  is  in  a  venous  state,  having  just  come  from 
the  veins,  and  will  not  support  life  ;  then  it  must  change  its  character 
before  it  is  thrown  back  again  into  the  circulation.  It  must  be  con- 
veyed into  the  lungs,  there  to  be  exposed  to  the  influence  of  the 
atmospheric  air,  and  purified,  and  arterialized.  For  this  purpose,  the 
ventricle,  stimulated  by  nervous  energy,  contracts,  and  as  it  con- 
tracts, it  drives  a  little  of  the  blood  back,  but  it  forces  more  under  a 
dense  fringed  membrane  which  hangs  around  the  opening  between 
the  auricle  and  the  ventricle,  and  this  membrane,  thus  raised  up  all 
round,  closes  the  opening,  and  prevents  the  return  of  the  principal 
part  of  the  blood  that  way,  and  it  is  urged  through  another  opening 
into  the  lungs. 

These  fringes,  which,  in  the  dilated  state  of  the  ventricle,  hang 
loose,  but  which  are  forced  up  as  the  blood  insinuates  itself  behind 
them  when  the  ventricle  contracts,  discharge  the  function  of  a  perfect 
valve :  they  are  tied  down  to  a  certain  extent  by  cords  attached  to 
their  edges,  and  which  spring  from  certain  fleshy  or  muscular  columns 
that  arise  within  the  ventricle.  The  edges,  therefore,  are  permitted 
to  be  elevated,  until  they  have  attained  a  horizontal  direction,  and 
meet  each  other,  and  perfectly  close  the  opening,  and  then  are 
stopped  by  these  tendinous  cords,  which  oppose  their  strength  to  the 
further  elevation  of  the  fringes,  and  that  regulated  or  increased  by 
the  muscular  power  of  the  columns  beneath. 

In  the   ox,   the  venous  systen:  is  very  large.      The  vessels  are 


CATTLE. 


numerous  and  harge,  and  blood  in  large  quantities  pours  on  toward 
the  right  auricle  and  ventricle  of  tiie  heart.  These  tendinous  cords, 
and  the  muscular  columns  beneath,  are  very  large  and  strong,  in 
order  to  aftbrd  adequate  resistance  to  the  greater  pressure  of  the 
blood.  In  this  ventricle,  there  is  also  a  band  or  fleshy  muscle,  run- 
ning across  from  one  side  to  the  other,  the  double  effect  of  which  is 
beautifully  evident,  viz.,  to  prevent  this  cavity  from  being  too  much 
dilated,  or  possibly  ruptured,  Avhen  the  blood  flows  rapidly  into  the 
heart ;  and  to  assist  the  ventricle  in  contracting  on  the  blood.  A  small- 
er and  more  tendinous  band  runs  across  the  same  ventricle,  lower 
down,  and  for  the  same  purpose.  From  the  peculiar  arrangement  of 
the  circulatory  system,  there  is  always  this  pouring  on  of  blood  to  be 
arterialized  ;  for  the  secretion  of  milk,  or  the  deposition  of  fat,  con- 
stitute the  daily,  unremitting  duties  of  the  animal.  There  is  given, 
not  only  to  provide  against  accident,  but  to  fit  the  heart  for  this 
incessant  hard  work,  this  supplemental  muscle,  in  the  form  of  a  lleshy 
band  stretching  across  from  one  side  to  the  other,  preventing  dilata- 
tion and  assisting  in  contraction. 

The  blood  is  diiven  out  of  the  riorht  ventricle  into  the  luno^s,  and  is 
there  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  atmospheric  air,  and  purified  ; 
thence  it  is  returned  to  the  left  auricle,  passes  into  the  left  ventricle, 
and,  by  the  contraction  of  that  cavity,  is  propelled  through  the  arteries. 

The  aortas  are  the  large  vessels  which  first  receive  the  blood  from 
the  heart  in  order  to  carry  it  through  the  body.  The  vessels  from 
the  left  ventricle,  which  carry  the  arterial  blood  through  the  frame, 
and  those  from  the  right  ventricle,  that  convey  the  venous  blood  to 
the  lungs,  alike  spring  from  the  muscular  and  fleshy  septum,  or  wall, 
that  separates  the  cavities  of  the  heart,  and  divides  that  organ  into 
two  distinct  parts.  The  ventricles  of  the  heart  of  the  ox  have  con- 
stant and  hard  work  to  do,  and  additional  strength  is  given  by  the 
insertion  of  a  bone  into  the  septum  at  the  base  of  these  arteries,  more 
belonging  to  the  aorta  than  to  the  pulmonary  artery,  but  meant  as  a 
support  to  both. 

The  heart  is  subject  to  inflammation.  It  is  principally  recognized 
by  the  strength  of  the  pulse,  and  by  the  bounding  action  of  the  heart, 
evident  enough  when  the  hand  is  placed  on  the  side  of  the  chest,  and 
which  may  be  seen  and  heard  even  at  a  distance. 

THE    ARTERIAL    SYSTEM. 

The  blood  is  carried  on  through  the  arteries  by  the  force  of  the 
heart.  These  are  composed  or  three  coats ;  the  outer,  or  elastic,  by 
which  they  yield  to  the  gush  of  blood ;  the  muscular  coat,  by  wiiich 
the  artery  contracts  again  when  the  gush  of  blood  has  passed ;  and 
the  inner,  or  smooth,  glistening  coat,  which  lessens  the  friction  of  the 
blood  against  the  side  of  the  vessel,  and  its  consequent  gradual  retar- 
dation in  i's  course. 


INFLAMMATION. 


THE    PULSE. 

The  muscular  coat  of  the  artery  can  be  felt  giving  way  to  the  gush 
of  blood  :  and  the  expansion  of  the  artery,  as  the  blood  passes,  is 
called  the  imhe.  Every  one  who  knows  the  least  about  cattle  is 
sensible  of  the  importance  of  the  indications  to  be  obtained  by  the 
pulse.  The  heat  of  blood  may  be  felt  at  the  root  of  the  horn  ;  and 
the  rallying  of  the  blood  round  some  important,  but  inflamed  part, 
may  be  guessed  at  by  means  of  the  coldness  of  the  ear,  or  the 
extremities  :  but  by  the  pulse  we  ascertain  the  state  of  the  general 
system,  and  the  increased  force  or  debility  of  that  central  machine  on 
which  every  secretion  and  every  function  depends.  It  has  been 
'stated  that  the  pulse  is  not  easily  felt  at  the  jaw.  The  temporal 
artery  will  generally  be  sufficiently  distinct;  but  it  will  be  most 
convenient  to  ascertain  the  beating  of  the  heart  itself,  by  placing  the 
hand  on  the  left  side,  a  little  within  and  behind  the  elbow.  The 
average  pulse  of  a  full-grown  healthy  ox  is  about  forty, 

THE    CAPILLARIES. 

The  blood  continues  to  circulate  along  the  arteries,  until  they  and 
their  ramifications  have  diminished  so  much  in  size,  as  to  be  termed 
capillaries,  or  hair-like  tubes,  although  many  of  them  are  not  one- 
hundredth  part  so  large  as  a  hair.  The  heart  ceases  to  have 
influence  here.  Xo  force  from  behind  could  drive  the  blood  through 
vessels  so  minute.  Another  power  is  called  into  exercise,  namely,  the 
influence  of  the  organic  motor,  or  moving  nerves,  on  the  muscular 
sides  of  these  fittle  tubes. 

This  is  by  far  the  most  important  part  of  the  circulation.  The 
blood  is  carried  through  the  arteries  mechanically,  and  without 
change  in  them ;  it  is,  returned  through  the  veins  mechanically,  and 
almost  without  change  in  them  also  :  but  it  is  in  the  capillary  system 
that  every  secretion  is  performed,  and  that  the  nutrition  of  every 
part  is  effected.  The  arteries  and  veins  are  mere  mechanical  tubes ; 
the  capillaries  are  connected  with  the  vital  principle — they  are 
portions  of  fife  itself. 

INFLAMMATION. 

The  arteries  are  subject  to  inflammation,  yet  so  rarely  in  the  ox  as 
to  render  it  unnecessary  to  detain  us  in  describing  it;  but  a  similar 
affection  of  the  capillaries  constitutes  the  very  essence  and  the  most 
dangerous  part  of  every  other  disease.  Inflammation  is  increased 
action  of  these  vessels.  When  the  increased  action  is  confined  to  a 
few  capillaries,  or  a  small  space,  or  a  single  organ,  the  inflammation 
is  said  to  be  local  ;  but  when  it  embraces  the  whole  of  the  system, 
it  assiunes  the  name  of  fever 


224  CATTLE. 


If  inflammation  be  the  consequence  of  increased  action  of  the 
capillaries,  the  object  to  be  effected  is  to  reduce  that  inordinate 
action  to  the  healthy  standard,  before  the  part  has  become  debili- 
tated or  destroyed  by  this  overwoi-k.  Bleeding  is  one  of  the  most 
effectual  measures,  and  especially  local  bleeding.  The  increased 
action  of  the  vessels,  and  the  consequent  redness,  heat  and  swelling 
of  the  part,  are  at  once  the  consequence  of  inflammatory  action,  and 
tend  to  prolong  and  to  increase  it.  A  copious  bleeding,  therefore,  by 
relieving  the  overloaded  vessels,  and  enabling  them  once  more  to 
contract  on  their  contents,  is  indicated.  To  this  physic  will  follow, 
and  there  is  scarcely  an  inflammatory  disease  in  the  ox  in  which  it 
can,  by  possibility,  be  injurious.  Mashes  and  cooling  diet  will  be 
essential. 

As  to  external  applications,  they  will  be  best  treated  of  when  the 
different  species  of  inflammation  are  discussed  ;  but,  as  a  general  rule, 
in  superficial  inflammation,  and  in  the  early  stage  of  the  disease,  cold 
lotions  will  be  the  most  useful ;  in  cases  of  deeper-seated  injury,  and 
of  considerable  standing,  warm  fomentations  will  be  preferable.  The 
first  will  best  succeed  in  abstracting  the  inflammatory  heat ;  the 
other  will  relax  the  fibres  of  the  neighboring  parts,  which  press  upon, 
and  perpetuate,  the  injury,  and  will  also  restore  the  suspended  per- 
spiration. Cases,  however,  continually  occur  in  which  the  most 
opposite  treatment  is  required  in  different  stages  of  inflammation.   , 


We  have  described  fever  as  general  capillary  action,  and  with  or 
without  any  local  affection  ;  or  it  is  the  consequence  of  the  sympathy 
of  the  system  with  inflammation  of  some  particular  part.  'Jhe  first  is 
called  pure  or  idio'pathic  fever ;  the  other  symptomatic  fever. 

Pure  fever  is  frequent  in  cattle.  A  beast,  yesterday  in  good  health, 
is  observed  to-day — dull,  the  muzzle  dry,  rumination  and  grazing 
having  quite  ceased,  or  being  carelessly  or  lazily  performed,  the  flanks 
heave  a  little,  the  root  of  the  horn  is  unnaturally  hot,  the  pulse  is 
quickened,  and  is  somewhat  hard.  The  animal  is  evidently  not  well, 
but  the  owner  cannot  discover  any  local  affection  or  disease  ;  he  gives 
a  dose  of  physic  ;  perhaps  he  bleeds  ;  he  places  a  mash  before  his 
patient,  and,  on  the  following  day,  the  beast  is  considerably  better, 
or  well ;  or  possibly,  the  animal,  although  apparently  better  in  the 
morning,  becomes  worse  as  the  day  advances,  and  at  about  the  hour, 
or  a  little  later,  when  he  was  seen  on  the  preceding  day.  This  is  but 
a  slight  attack  of  fever,  without  local  affection,  or  intermittent  fever, 
still  without  local  determination,  and  which  goes  on  for  three  or  four 
days,  returning,  or  being  aggravated  at  a  particular  hour,  until  by 
means  of  cordial  purgatives  the  chain  is  broken. 

At  other  times,  the  fever  remains  without   these   i intermissions. 


INFLAMMATORY  FEVER.  225 

It  increases  daily,  notwithstanding  the  means  employed,  and  at  length 
assumes  the  form  of  pleurisy,  or  enteritis,  or  some  local  inflamma- 
tory complaint.  The  general  irritation  has  here  concentrated  itself 
on  some  organ  eitlier  previously  debilitated,  or  at  that  time  predis- 
posed to  take  on  inflammation.  It  is  pure  or  idiopathic  fever,  as- 
suming, after  a  while,  a  local  determination.  This  is  a  serious,  and 
frequently  a  fatal  case  ;  for  the  whole  system  having  been  previously 
afi'ected,  and,  probably,  debihtated,  and  disposed  to  take  on  inflam- 
matory action,  the  proper  remedies  cannot  be  sr>  fearlessly  and  suc- 
cessfully used.  Local  means  of  abating  inflammation  must  here  be 
pushed  to  their  full  extent. 

Symptomatic  fever  is  yet  more  frequent  and  dangerous.  No  or- 
gan of  consequence  can  be  long  disordered  or  inflamed,  without  the 
neighboring  parts  being  disturbed,  and  the  whole  system  gradually 
sharing  in  the  disturbance.  By  the  degree  of  this  general  aff"ection, 
by  the  heat  of  the  mouth,  and  the  frequency  of  the  pulse,  a  judg- 
ment is  formed  not  only  of  the  degree  of  general  disturbance,  but 
of  the  intensity  of  the  local  aff"ection.  The  subsidence  of  the  pulse, 
and  the  return  of  the  appetite,  and  the  recommencement  of  rumina- 
tion, are  indications  both  of  the  diminution  of  the  general  irritation, 
and  the  local  cause  of  it. 

Some  have  denied  the  existence  of  this  essential  fever  in  cattle, 
but  the  facts  that  have  been  stated  cannot  be  doubted.  It  would 
be  scarcely  necessary  to  recur  to  this  were  there  not  so  many  instan- 
ces of  bad  and  dangerous  practice  in  the  early  treatment  of  these 
cases.  If  fever  were  plainly  recogni'Zed,  the  owner  or  the  sui-geon 
would  be  more  anxious  to  get  rid  of  the  local  affection  before  the 
system  was  materially  affected ;  and  if  he  was  aware  of  pure  and 
essential  fever,  he  would  endeavor  to  remove  it  before  it  took  on  local 
determination.  These  are  the  golden  rules  of  practice,  which  no 
nonsensical   theories  should  cause  any  one  for  a  moment  to  forget. 

INFLAMMATORY-    FEVER THE     BLOOD BLOOD-STRIKING BLACK-LEG 

QUARTER-EVIL,    OR    BLACK-QUARTER. 

Thousands  of  cattle  fall  victims  every  year  to  a  disease,  which, 
from  its  virulent  character  and  speedy  course,  may  be  termed  inflam- 
matory fever.  A  disease  of  this  character,  but  known  by  a  number 
of  strange  yet  expressive  terms,  is  occasionally  prevalent,  and  ex- 
ceedingly fatal  among  cattle  in  every  district.  It  is  termed  black- 
quarter,  quarter-evil,  joint-murrain,  blood-striking,  shoot  of  blood, 
•kc;  and  although  it  may  not,  at  any  time,  embody  all  the  symp- 
toms of  either  of  these  diseases,  according,  at  least,  as  they  are  un- 
derstood in  some  parts  of  the  country,  there  are  few  cases  in  which 
the  prevailing  symptoms  of  most  of  them  are  not  exhibited  in  some 
of  the  stages. 

10* 


226  CATTLE. 


Cattle  of  all  descriptions  and  ages  are  occasionally  subject  to  in- 
flammatory fever  ;  but  young  stock,  and  those  that  are  thriving  most 
rapidly,  ''ire  its  chief  victims.  So  aware  is  the  proprietor  of  young 
short-horn  cattle  of  this,  that  while  he  is  determined  to  take  full  ad- 
vantage of  their  unrivalled  early  maturity  by  turning  them  on  mor<» 
luxuriant  pasture  than  prudence  would  always  dictate,  he  endeavors 
to  guard  himself  by  periodical  bleeding,  or  by  the  insertion  of  setons 
in  the  dewlap  of  all  his  yearlings.  This  disease  is  sometimes  epi- 
demic, that  is,  the  cattle  of  a  certain  district  have  been  pushed  on 
too  rapidly  ;  they  have  lurking  inflammation  about  them,  or  they 
have  a  tendency  to  it ;  and,  by-and-byo.  comes  some  change  or  state 
of  the  atmosphere  w^iich  acts  upon  this  inflammatory  predisposition, 
and  the  disease  runs  through  the  district. 

There  are  few  premonitory  symptoms  of  inflammatory  fever.  Of- 
ten without  any,  and  generally  with  very  slight  indications  of  previ- 
ous illness,  the  animal  is  found  with  his  neck  extended  ;  his  head 
brought,  as  much  as  he  can  aff'ect  it,  into  a  horrizontal  position  ; 
the  eyes  protruding,  and  red  ;  the  muzzle  dry  ;  the  nostrils  expand- 
ed ;  the  breath  hot ;  the  lOot  of  the  horn  considerably  so  ;  the 
mouth  partly  open  ;  the  tongue  enlarged,  or  apparently  so  ;  the 
pulse  full,  hard,  and  from  65  to  70  ;  the  breathing  quickened  and 
laborious ;  the  flanks  violently  heaving,  and  the  animal  moaning  in 
a  low  and  peculiar  way. 

Sometimes  the  animal  is  in  full  possession  of  his  senses,  but  gen- 
erally there  is  a  degree  of  unconsciousness  of  surrounding  objects  :  he 
will  stand  for  an  hour  or  more  without  the  slightest  change  of  pos- 
ture, he  can  scarcely  be  induced  to  move,  or  when  compelled  to  do 
so,  he  staggers  ;  and  the  staggering  is  principally  referable  to  the 
hind  quarters  ;  rumination  has  ceased,  and  the  appetite  is  quite  gone. 
After  a  while  he  becomes  more  uneasy,  yet  it  is  oftener  a  change 
of  posture  to  ease  his  tired  limbs,  than  a  pawung  :  at  length  he  lies 
down,  or  rather  drops  ;  gets  up  almost  immediately  ;  is  soon  down 
again ;  and  debility  rapidly  increasing,  he  continues  prostrate  ;  some- 
times he  lies  in  a  comatose  state  ;  at  others,  there  are  occasional  but 
fi-uitless  efforts  to  rise.  The  symptoms  rapidly  increase  :  there  is 
no  intermission  ;  and  the  animal  dies  in  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours. 

In  a  majority  of  cases,  and  especially  if  the  disease  has  been  prop- 
erly treated,  the  animal  seems  to  rally  a  little,  and  some  of  the  symp- 
toms appear,  from  which  the  common  names  of  the  disease  derive 
their  origin.  The  beast  attempts  to  get  up  :  after  some  attempts  he 
succeeds,  but  he  is  sadly  lame  in  one  or  both  of  the  hind  quarters. 
If  he  is  not  yet  fallen,  he  suddenly  becomes  lame  ;  so  lame  as  to 
scarcely  be  able  to  move.     He  has  quarter-evil — johit-miirrain. 

This  is  not  always  an  unfavorable  symptom.  The  disease  may 
be  leaving  the  vital  parts  for  those  of  less  consequence.  If  the 
apparent  return  of  strength  continues  for  a  da}-  or  two,  we  may  en- 


INFLAMMATORY  FEVER.  227 

courage  some  hope,  but  we  must  not  be  sanguine  ;  for  it  is  too  often 
only  a  temporary  and  delusive  respite.  * 

One  of  the  symptoms  now  most  to  be  dreaded  is  the  rapid  pro^ 
gress  of  that  which  has  already  begun  to  appear — tenderness  on 
the  loins  and  back.  The  patient  will  not  bear  even  the  slightest 
pressure  on  these  parts.  The  case  is  worse  if  to  these  be  added 
swellings  about  the  shoulders,  and  back,  and  loins,  with  a  peculiar  ' 
crackling  emphysematous  noise,  as  if  some  gas  were  extricated  in 
the  cellular  membrane,  and  the  pro -ess  of  decomposition  had  com- 
menced during  the  life  of  the  anima..  Worse  even  than  this  is  the 
appearance  of  sudden,  hard,  scurfy  patches  of  what  seems  to  be 
dead  skin.  It  is  a  kind  o^  dry  c/angrene,  and  it  is  the  commence- 
ment of  a  sloughing  process,  extensive  and  rapid  to  an  almost  in- 
conceivable degree.  Now,  we  have  black -quarter,  with  aP,  its  fear- 
ful character. 

The  ulcers  first  appear  about  the  belly,  the  quarters,  and  the 
teats,  but  they  spread  everywhere,  and  particularly  about  the 
mouth 'and  muzzle.  The  mouth  is  invariably  ulcerated,  and  the 
tongue  is  blistered  and  ulcerated  too  ;  and  there  is  either  a  discharge 
of  sanious,  offensive,  or  bloody  fluid  from  the  nose  and  mouth,  or 
considerable  hgemorrhage  from  both  of  them.  Kow,  the  urine,  which 
had  before  been  high-colored,  becomes  darker,  or  bloody  ;  the  dung 
likewise  has  streaks  of  blood  over  it,  and  both  are  exceedingly 
fetid. 

In  this  state  the  animal  may  continue  two  or  three  days,  imtil  it 
dies  a  mass  of  putridity  ;  unless  there  has  been  an  honest,  active 
assistant,  who  never  shrinks  from  his  duty,  and  who  will  properly 
dress  the  ulcers  and  administer  the  medicines.  Many  a  beast  has 
been  saved  even  at  this  point  of  the  disease.  The  first  favorable 
symptom  will  be  a  slight  diminution  of  the  fetor — the  ulcers  will 
then  speedily  heal,  and  the  strength  return. 

The  chief  appearance  after  death  will  be  venous  congestion  every-. 
where.  The  larger  and  the  smaller  veins  Avill  be  black,  and  dis- 
tended almost  to  bursting.  It  is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  pecu- 
liar vascular  system  of  the  animal,  and  speaks  volumes  as  to  the 
mode  of  treating  this  and  similar  diseases. 

The  congestion  is  everywhere.  It  affects  both  of  the  pleuras,  the 
intercostal  and  the  pulmonary,  and  the  whole  substance  of  the  lungs. 
It  extends  over  the  peritoneum,  and  more  particularly  over  the  mu- 
cous membrane  of  the  intestines ;  and  patches  of  inflammation  and 
ulceration  are  found  in  every  part  of  the  colon.  These  are  the  ap- 
pearances when  the  animal  is  carried  ofi"  during  the  inflammatory 
stage  of  the  disease. 

If  the  complaint  has  assumed  a  putrid  type,  there  is  effusion,  the 
smell  of  which  can  scarcely  be  borne,  both  in  the  chest  and  belly  ; 
with  adhesion  and  agglutination  of  all  the  small  intestines ;  ofteii 


CATTLE. 


vomicae  in  the  lungs,  and  effusion  in  the  pericardium.  Every  stomach 
is  inflal^ed,  and  the  fourth  ulcerated  tlirough.  The  substance  of  the 
liver  is  broken  down.  There  are  ulcerations  generally  of  the  smaller, 
and  always  of  the  larger,  intestines ;  and  in  every  part  of  the  cel- 
lular membrane  there  are  large  patches  of  inflammation  running  fast 
into  gangrene. 

There  cannot  be  a  doubt  respecting  either  the  nature  or  treatment 
of  such  a  disease.  It  is,  at  first,  of  a  purely  inflammatory  charac- 
ter, but  the  inflammation  is  so  intense  as  speedily  to  destroy  the 
powers  of  nature.  The  capillary  vessels  must  have  been  working 
with  strange  activity,  in  order  to  fill  and  to  clog  every  venous  canal. 
The  congestion  prevails  in  the  cranium  as  well  as  in  other  parts, 
and  the  distended  vessels  press  upon  the  substance  of  the  brain,  and 
that  pressure  is  propagated  to  the  commencement  of  the  nerves  ; 
and  hence  debility,  and  staggering,  and  almost  perfect  insensibility. 
As  the  congestion  early  takes  place,  the  coma,  or  stupor,  is  early 
in  its  appearance. 

The  nervous  energy  being  thus  impeded,  the  power  of  locomotion 
seems  first  to  fail ;  then  general  debility  succeeds,  and  at  length 
other  parts  of  the  vascular  system  are  involved.  The  mouths  of 
the  excretory  ducts  can  no  longer  contract  on  their  contents  ;  hence 
fluid  is  effused  in  the  chest  and  in  the  belly,  and  in  the  cellular 
membrane  ;  and  hence,  too,  the  rapid  formation  of  others.  The  vital 
powers  generally  are  weakened,  and  in  consequence  of  this  there 
is  the  speedy  tendency  of  every  excretion  to  putridity,  and  the  actual 
commencement  of  decomposition,  w^hile  the  animal  is  yet  alive.  The 
blood  shares  in  this  abstraction  or  deficiency  of  vitality,  and  hence 
the  disposition  to  ulceration,  gangrene,  and  dissolution,  by  which  the 
later  stages  of  the  disease  are  characterized. 

Inflammatory  fever,  although  not  confined  to  young  stock,  is  far 
most  prevalent  among  them.  It  appears  principally  in  the  spring 
and  fall  of  the  year,  for  then  we  have  the  early  and  late  flush  of 
grass.  On  poor  ground  it  is  comparatively  unknown  ;  but  the  young 
and  the  old  stock,  in  thriving  condition,  need  to  be  closely  watched 
when  the  pasture  is  good  and  the  grass  springing.  If  it  be  at  times 
epidemic,  it  is  only  when  the  season,  or  the  eagerness  of  the  farmer, 
have  exposed  the  constitution  to  an  excess  of  otherwise  healthy 
stimulus,  and  when  the  animal  is  in  a  manner  prepared  for  fever. 

When  the  early  part  of  the  spring  has  been  cold  and  ungenial,  and 
then  the  warm  weather  has  suddenly  set  in,  nothing  is  so  common 
as  inflammatory  fever;  but  the  change  in  the  tempei-ature,  or  other 
qualities  of  the  atmosphere,  has  had  only  an  indirect  effect  in  pro- 
ducing this  ;  it  is  the  sudden  increase  of  nutriment  which  has  done 
the  mischief.  When  cattle  are  moved  from  a  poor  to  a  more  luxu- 
riant pasture,  if  the  new  grass  be  sufficiently  liigh,  they  distend  the 
paunch   almost    to  bursting,   and   hoove   is   the  result ;  but  if  thp 


INFLAMMATORY  FEVElt.  229 

change  be  more  in  the  quality  than  in  the  quantity  of  the  food,  the 
evil  is  more  slowly  produced,  and  it  is  more  fatal — a  disposition  to 
inflammation  is  excited,  which  wants  but  a  slight  stimulus  to  kindle 
into  a  flame.  It  is  the  penalty  which  the  breeder  must  pay,  or  the 
evil  which  he  must  carefully,  and  not  always  successfully,  endeavor 
to  avoid,  when  he  is  endeavoiing  to  obtain  all  the  advantage  he  can 
from  the  richness  of  his  pasture,  the  aptitude  to  fatten,  and  the 
eai-ly  maturity,  of  his  cattle.  Milch  cows  are,  generally  speaking, 
exempt  from  inflammatory  fever. 

Inflammatory  fever  is  sometimes  caused  by  the  driving  of  fat  beasts 
in  the  beginning  of  summer  with  too  much  hurry.  It  has  broken 
out  among  stall-fed  cattle  still  later  in  the  year,  when  the  process  of 
fattening  has  been  injudiciously  hastened.  In  fact,  from  the  peculiar 
vascular  system  of  cattle,  the  excitement  of  too  m.uch  food  is  the 
usual  cause  of  inflammatory  fever  in  them.  The  vascular  system  is 
most  subject  to  disease  in  the  ox,  for  we  keep  him,  as  nearly  as  we 
can  with  any  rational  hope  of  safety,  in  a  state  of  plethora. 

The  very  name  of  the  disease,  inflammatory  fever,  indicates  the 
mode  of  treatment.  In  a  case  of  excessive  vascular  action,  the  first 
and  most  important  step  is  copious  bleeding,  ^s  much  blood  must 
be  taken  as  the  animal  will  bear  to  lose  ;  and  the  stream  must  flow 
on  until  the  beast  staggers  or  threatens  to  fall.  Here,  more  than  in 
any  other  disease,  there  must  be  no  foolish  directions  about  quantities. 
As  much  blood  must  he  taken  away  as  can  h2  got  ;  for  it  is  only  by 
bold  depletory  measures  that  a  malady  can  be  subdued  that  runs  its 
course  so  rapidly. 

Purging  must  immediately  follow.  Epsom  salts  are  here,  as  in 
most  inflammatory  diseases,  the  best  purgative.  A  pound  and  a  half, 
dissolved  in  water  or  gruel,  and  poured  down  the  throat  as  gently  as 
possible,  should  be  the  fir^t  dose  ;  and  no  aromatic  should  accompany 
it.  If  this  does  not  operate  in  the  course  of  six  hours,  another  pound 
should  be  given  ;  and,  after  that,  half-pound  doses  every  six  hours 
until  the  effect  is  produced. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  first  six  hours  the  patient  should  be  care- 
fully examined.  Is  the  pulse  slower,  softer  ?  If  not,  he  must  be 
bled  a  second  time,  and  until  the  circulation  is  once  more  affected. 
If  the  animal  be  somewhat  better,  yet  not  to  the  extent  that  could  be 
wished,  the  practitioner  would  be  warranted  in  bleeding  a^ain,  pro- 
vided the  sinking  and  fluttering  of  the  pulse  does  not  indicate  the 
commencement  of  debility. 

If  the  pulse  be  a  little  quieted,  and  purging  has  taken  place,  and 
the  animal  is  somewhat  more  himself,  the  treatment  should  be  fol- 
lowed up  by  the  diligent  exhibition  of  sedative  medicises.  A  drachm 
and  a  half  of  digitalis,  and  one  drachm  of  emetic  tartar,  and  half  an 
ounce  of  nitre,  should  be  given  three  times  every  day ;  and  setons 


CATTLE. 


inserted  in  the  dewlap.     Those  of  black  hellebore-root  are  the  best, 
as  producing  the  quickest  and  the  most  extensive  inflammation. 

If  the  animal  be  not  seen  until  the  inflammatory  stage  of  the  fever 
has  nearly  passed,  the  skill  of  the  practitioner  will  be  put  to  the  test. 
Has  the  animal  been  bled  ?  if  it  has  not,  nothing  can  excuse  the 
neglect  of  bleeding  now,  except  debility  too  palpable  to  be  mistaken. 
It  may  perhaps  be  more  truly  affirmed,  that  even  that  should  be  no 
excuse.  This  congestion  of  blood  is  a  deadly  weight  on  the  consti- 
tution, which  the  powers  of  unassisted  nature  will  not  be  able  to 
throw  off.  It  must  be  very  great  debility,  indeed,  which  should 
frighten  the  practitioner  from  this  course ;  and  debility  which,  in 
ninety-nine  times  out  of  a  hundred,  would  terminate  in  death.  As  a 
general  rule  in  this  stage  of  the  disease,  the  effect  of  bleeding  should 
certainly  be  tried ;  but  cautiously — very  cautiously — and  with  the 
finger  constantly  on  the  pulse.  If  the  pulse  gets  rounder  and  softer 
as  the  blood  flows,  the  abstraction  of  blood  will  assuredly  be  service- 
able ;  and  if  the  pulse  becomes  weaker,  and  more  indisiinct,  no  hann 
will  have  been  done,  provided  that  the  orifice  be  immediately  closed. 

Physic  will,  in  this  stage  of  the  disease,  also  be  indispensable  ;  but 
double  the  usual  quantity  of  the  aromatic  should  be  added,  in  order 
to  stimulate  the  rumen,  if  the  drink  should  get  into  it,  and  also  to 
stimulate  the  fourth  stomach  and  the  wliole  of  tlie  frame,  if  fortunately 
it  should  reach  so  far  as  this  stomach.  A  pound  of  the  Epsom  salts 
at  first,  and  half-pound  doses  afterwards,  until  the  bowels  are  opened, 
will  be  sufficient  in  this  stage  ;  and  if,  after  the  fourth  dose,  (injec- 
tions having  been  given  in  the  meantime,)  purging  is  not  produced, 
the  quantity  of  the  aromatic,  but  not  of  the  purgative,  may  be 
increased.  It  is  probable  that  the  medicine  has  found  its  way  into 
the  rumen,  where  it  will  remain  inert  until  that  cuticular  and  com- 
paratively insensible  stomach  is  roused  to  action  by  the  stimulus  of 
the  aromatic.  No  other  medicine  should  be  given  until  the  bowels 
have  been  opened  ;  and  in  many  cases  very  little  other  medicine  will 
afterwards  be  required. 

The  bowels  having  been  opened,  recourse  should  be  had  once  more 
to  the  pulse.  If  it  indicate  any  degree  of  fever,  as  it  sometimes  will, 
(for  the  apparent  debihty  is  not  always  the  consequence  of  exhaustion, 
but  of  vascular  congestion,)  the  physic  must  be  continued,  but  the 
constitution  would  perhaps  be  too  weak  for  the  direct  sedative  medi- 
cine. On  the  other  hand,  however,  no  tonic  medicine  must  be  given. 
If,  however,  the  pulse  be  weak,  wavering,  irregular,  giving  sufficient 
intimation  that  the  fever  has  passed,  and  debility  succeeded,  recourse 
may  be  had  to  tonic  medicines.  The  tonics,  however,  which  in  such 
cases  would  be  beneficial  in  cattle,  are  very  few.  Mineral  tonics  have 
rarely  produced  any  satisfactory  rc^sult — but  in  gentian,  calombo,  and 
ginger,  the  diseases  of  cattle  find  almost  everything  to  be  wished. 


INFLAIVIMATORY  FEVER.  231 

The  two  first  are  excellent  stomachics,  as  well  as  tonics  ;  the  last  is 
a  tonic,  simply  because  it  is  the  very  best  stomachic  in  the  cattle 
pharmacopoeia.  They  may  be  given  three  times  every  day,  in  doses 
of  a  drachm  each  of  the  two  first,  and  half  a  drachm  of  the  last. 
They  will  be  more  effectual  in  these  moderate  doses  than  in  the 
overwhelming  quantities  in  which  some  administer  them,  and  in  which 
they  oppress  and  cause  nausea,  rather  than  stimulate  and  give 
appetite.  They  should  always  be  given  in  gruel,  with  half  a  pint  or 
even  a  pint  of  sound  ale. 

The  practitioner  may  possibly  be  called  in  after  ulcers  have  broken 
out,  and  the  sloughing  process  has  commenced  :  there  must  be  no 
bleeding  then  ;  the  vitality  of  the  system  has  received  a  sufficient 
shock,  and  various  parts  of  it  are  actually  decomposing ;  but  physic 
is  necessary,  with  a  double  dose  of  the  aromatic,  in  order  to  rouse  the 
energies  of  the  digestive  system,  and  to  get  rid  of  much  offensive  and 
dangerous  matter  collected  in  the  intestinal  canal.  Epsom  salts  will 
here  also  constitute  the  best  purgative.  The  enlargements  about  the 
knee,  and  elbow,  and  stifle,  and  hock,  should  be  fomented  with  warm 
water  ;  and  any  considerable  indurations,  and  especially  about  the 
joints,  embrocated  with  equal  parts  of  turpentine,  hartshorn,  and 
camphorated  spirit. 

The  ulcers  should  be  carefully  and  thoroughly  washed  several 
times  every  day  with  a  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime,  of  the  strength 
already  recommended.  The  ulcers  about  the  muzzle,  mouth,  and 
throat,  should  be  treated  in  a  similar  manner  ;  and  a  pint  of  the 
solution  may  be  horned  down  twice  in  the  course  of  the  first  day. 
If  there  be  hoose  or  bloat,  this  will  combine  with  the  extricated  gas, 
and  prevent  the  continued  formation  of  it ;  and  it  will  materially  cor- 
rect the  fetor  which  pervades  the  whole  of  the  digestive  canal. 
Mashes  and  plenty  of  thick  gruel  should  be  offered  to  the  beast,  and 
forced  upon  him  by  means  of  the  stomach-pump  if  he  refuse  to  take 
it  voluntarily.  In  this  case,  the  pipe  should  not  be  introduced  more 
than  half-way  down  the  oesophagus,  as  there  will  then  be  greater 
probability  of  the  liquor  flowing  on  into  the  fourth  stomach. 

Tonics  should  on  no  account  be  neglected,  but  be  administered 
simply  to  rouse  to  action  the  languid  or  almost  lifeless  powers  of  the 
frame. 

If  the  stench  from  the  ulcers  does  not  abate,  the  solution  of  the 
chloride  should  be  quickly  increased  to  a  double  strength  ;  but  as 
soon  as  the  fetor  has  ceased,  and  the  wounds  begin  to  have  a 
healthy  appearance,  the  healing  ointment  or  the  tincture  of  aloes 
may  be  adopted,  and  the  latter  is  preferable.  When  the  nnimal 
begins  to  eat,  he  should  be  turned  into  a  field  close  at  hand,  the 
grass  of  which  has  been  cropped  pretty  closely.  A  seton  or  a  rowel 
should  be  retained  for  three  or  four  weeks  ;  but  as  for  medicine,  it 
cannot  be  too  soon  discontinued  when  the  animal  is  once  set  on  it* 


CATTLE. 


legs.  When  art  has  subdued  the  disease,  nature,  although  sloivly, 
will  most  successfully  resume  her  wonted  functions. 

The  breeder  has  much  in  his  power  in  the  way  of  prevention.  His 
cattle  should  be  carefully  examined  every  day.  Any  little  heaving 
at  the  flanks,  or  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  or  heat-bumps  on  the  back, 
or  rubbing,  sliould  be  regarded  with  suspicion,  and  met  by  a  gentle 
purgative,  or  the  abstraction  of  a  little  blood ;  but  the  decided 
appearance  of  inflammatory  fever  in  one  of  them  will  not  be  misun- 
derstood for  a  moment ;  it  will  convince  him  that  he  has  been  making 
more  haste  than  good  speed,  and  in  the  disease  of  one  he  will  see  the 
danger  of  all.  All  who  have  been  subject  to  the  same  predisposing 
causes  of  disease,  should  be  bled  and  physicked,  and  turned  into  a 
field  of  short  and  inferior  keep. 

Prevention  of  this  malady  is  the  only  cure  worth  notice.  A  piece 
of  short  or  inferior  keep  should  be  reserved  as  a  digesting  place,  in 
which  the  cattle  may  be  occasionally  turned  to  empty  and  exercise 
themselves.  Those  observed  to  advance  very  fast  may  be  bled 
monthly  for  several  months ;  but  occasional  purges  of  alterative 
medicines  would  prevent  those  diseases  which  seem  to  take  their  rise 
in  over-repletion  and  accumulation,  and  are  far  better  than  bleeding. 

These  periodical  bleedings  increase  rather  than  lessen  the  disposi- 
tion to  make  blood  and  fat. 

This  disease  differs  materially  in  its  symptoms  in  difierent  districts, 
and  in  the  same  district  at  different  times.  The  difficulty  lies  in  the 
other  diseases  with  which  the  inflammatory  fever  is  combined — some- 
times one,  and  sometimes  another,  assuming  a  prominent  character ; 
and  while  they  all  generally  follow  inflammatory  fever,  yet  some  of 
them  occasionally  precede  it. 

In  some  places,  the  first  symptoms  are  those  of  quarter-ill.  The 
cattle  are  seized  first  in  one  quarter,  and  then  in  the  other.  The  skin 
puffs  up,  and  the  crackling  noise  is  heard  almost  from  the  beginning. 
The  disease  is  usually  fatal  when  it  assumes  this  form. 

In  others,  where,  from  the  rapidity  with  which  it  runs  its  course,  it 
is  called  the  speed,  it  also  generally  begins  behind.  Inflammation,  or 
rather  mortification,  seizes  one  hock.  It  runs  up  the  quarter,  w^hich 
becomes  actually  puti'id  in  the  couse  of  an  hour  or  two,  while  the 
other  limbs  continue  sound.  Few,  especially  young  beasts,  survive 
an  attack  of  this  kind.  Here  the  active  use  of  local  apphcations  is 
indicated  ;  and  yet  they  will  rarely  be  of  much  sen'ice. 

In  other  parts,  under  the  name  of  the  puck,  the  fore-quarter,  or  the 
side,  is  the  part  mostly  affected ;  and  the  animal  frequently  dies  in  an 
hour  or  two.  On  skinning  the  beast,  the  whole  quarter  appears 
black  from  the  extravasation  of  blood,  and  is  softened  and  decom- 
posed, as  though  it  were  one  universal  bruise. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  principal  remedy  for  the  treatment 
of  this  fever  is  zeonitum,  which  should  be  repeated  at  inter  rals,  so 


TYPHUS  FEV^ER.  238 


mucli  shorter,  according  as  the  disease  is  more  severe ;  for  instance, 
from  every  eight  to  fifteen  minutes  in  very  acute  cases,  and  which 
must  be  continued  until  a  perceptible  calm  be  restored.  In  external 
inflammatory  diseases,  especially  those  which  arise  from  a  traumatic 
lesion,  aconitum  is  applicable  not  only  to  prevent  the  fever,  but  also  to 
cure  it  when  it  is  already  developed,  and  has  as  yet  made  no  progress. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  efficacy  of  aconitum,  it  does  not  suffice  in 
many  cases  to  effect  a  complete  cure,  so  that,  accordino-  to  the  indi- 
vidual nature  of  the  inflammation,  other  diseases  being  connected,  it 
becomes  necessaiy  to  assist  its  action  by  that  of  other  different  means ; 
belladonna  in  encephalitis ;  spongia  marina  in  angina ;  bryonia  in 
pneumonia  and  peri-pneumonia ;  arsenicum  and  rhus  toxicodendron  in 
enteritis ;  cantharides  in  c^ystitis  and  nephritis,  &c. 

TYPHUS  FEVER. 

This  is  a  species  of  fever  with  which  every  farmer  is  too  well  ac- 
quainted. It  is  of  a  low  chronic,  typhoid  form.  It  sometimes  fol- 
lows intense  inflammatory  action,  and  then  it  may  be  deemed  the 
second  stage  of  that  which  has  just  been  considered  ;  but  often, 
there  have  been  no  previous  symptoms  of  peculiar  intensitv,  at  least 
none  that  have  been  observed,  but  a  little  increased  heat  of  the  ears, 
horns,  and  mouth  ;  a  pulse  of  sixty  or  seventy ;  a  certain  deo-ree  of 
dullness  ;  a  deficiency  of  appetite  ;  an  occasional  suspension  of  rumi- 
nation ;  a  disinclination  to  move ;  a  gait  approaching  to  staggerino-  ; 
and  a  gradual  wasting.  These  are  plain  indications  that  there  is  a 
fire  burning,  and  rapidly  consuming  the  strength  of  the  animal.  The 
vital  energies  are  evidently  undermining  ;  but  the  fire  is  smothered. 
It  is  not  phthisis  (consumption),  it  is  not  inflammatory  fever,  for  the 
intense  inflammation  characterizing  that  is  seldom  seen — it  is  true 
typhus  fever. 

As  soon  as  it  becomes  established,  diarrhoea  succeeds  ;  and  this  is 
either  produced  by  small  doses  of  medicine  from  which  no  dano-er 
could  be  suspected,  or  comes  on  spontaneously.  It  is  not,  however, 
violent,  but  continues  day  after  day.  It  bids  defiance  to  the  skill  of 
the  most  experienced  practitioner,  or,  if  arrested  for  a  while,  is  sure 
to  return.  The  discharge  is  peculiarly  fetid  ;  occasionally  mixed 
with  blood,  and  generally  containing  a  considerable  quantity  of 
mucus. 

Three  or  four  weeks  have  probably  now  elapsed,  and  then  succeed 
the  peculiar  symptoms  of  low  fever  in  cattle.  Tumors  form  round 
the  joints,  or  appear  on  the  back  or  udder ;  ulcerate,  spread,  and  be- 
come fetid.  The  sweet  breath  of  the  ox  is  gone — it  is  as  offensive 
as  the  ulcers,  and,  in  fact,  we  have  that  which  can  scarcely  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  second  stage  of  inflammatory  fever. 

It  is  most  prevalent  in  the  spring  and  fall  of  the  year,  and  when 


284  CATTLE. 


the  first  has  been  ungenia    and  the  latter  wet.     The  pasture  gene 
rally  possesses  some  degree  of  luxuriance,  although  its  herbage  may 
be  coarse,  and   the  beast  is  usually  in  good  condition  when  first  at- 
tacked. 

This  disease  has  sometimes  been  epidemic  and  fatal  to  a  dreadful 
extent,  occasionally  assuming  the  form  of,  or  being  connected  with, 
epidemic  catarrh ;  at  other  times'  accompanied  by  dysentery,  but 
frequently  being,  for  many  a  day,  or  for  some  weeks,  typhoid  fever 
witliout  any  local  determination. 

The  cause  of  typhoid  fever  is  involved  in  much  obscurity.  It  is 
most  prevalent  on  cold,  wet  lands,  and  during  cold,  wet,  variable 
weather.  A  long  wet  winter  is  sure  to  be  followed  by  typhus  fever 
in  every  low,  marshy  district.  In  the  higher  pastures,  where  the 
cattle  seem  exposed  to  greater  cold,  but  have  less  wet,  little  of  it  is 
seen. 

It  is  much  to  be  doubted  whether  it  is  infectious  ;  but  if  one,  then 
all  the  cattle  have  been  exposed  to  the  same  predisposing  causes  of 
disease.  It  is  well  to  remove  the  infected  beasts  from  the  sound 
ones  as  soon  as  possible  ;  and  the  carcass  of  the  animal  that  dies  of 
inflammatory  or  typhoid  fever  should  be  buried  without  delay. 

These  are  cases  which  puzzle,  and,  when  treated  in  the  best  way, 
they  too  frequently  will  not  yield  to  medical  skill.  There  is  one  rule, 
however,  which  cannot  mislead.  If  there  he  fire,  it  must  he  put  out. 
No  apparent  debility  should  mislead  here.  That  debility  may,  and 
often  does,  result  from  the  presence  of  fever,  and  not  from  any  dan- 
gerous impairment  of  vital  power  ;  and  the  incubus  being  thrown 
ofi",  nature  will  rally ;  at  all  events,  the  debility  is  the  consequence  of 
the  fever,  and  is  daily  and  rapidly  increasing  while  the  fever  con- 
tinues :  therefore,  first  bleed,  and  bleed  until  the  character  of  the 
pulse  begins  to  change.  It  should  never  be  forgotten  that  one  bleed- 
ing of  this  kind  will  often  do  good,  and  cannot  be  injurious.  It  is 
the  fear  of  bleeding  lest  the  animal  should  be  more  debilitated,  or 
the  pushing  on  of  the  bleeding,  in  order  to  obtain  a  definite  quantity, 
after  the  pulse  has  begun  to  falter,  that  has  done  all  the  mischief. 

If  the  heat,  and  heaving,  and  disinclination  to  food  should  have 
been  relieved  by  this  bleeding,  but  should  threaten  to  return,  more 
blood  should  be  taken,  but  with  the  same  caution  as  to  the  pulse. 

Physic  must  follow,  but  with  caution  ;  for  there  is  a  natural  ten- 
dency to  diarrhoea  connected  with  this  disease,  which  is  often  trouble- 
some to  subdue.  One  dose  of  Epsom  salts  should  be  given  with  the 
usual  quantity  of  aromatic  medicine,  and  its  action  secured  and  kept 
up  by  half-pound  doses  of  sulphur,  administered  as  circumstances 
may  indicate. 

To  this  will  follow  the  usual  sedative  medicine — digitalis,  emetic 
tartar,  and  nitre.  The  practitioner  must  not  be  deluded  here.  While 
the  mouth  and  horns  are  liot,  and  the  pulse  rapid,  tonics  would  be 


THE  VEINS. 


poison.  He  has  to  put  out  the  fire,  and  not  to  feed  it.  When  tbe 
fever  is  subdued,  but  nature  finds  some  difficulty  in  rallying,  we  may 
give  gentian,  Colombo,  and  ginger,  with  advantage. 

When  the  tumors  and  ulcerations  appear,  the  second  staore  of  in- 
flammatory fever  is  established,  and  the  measures  recommended  for 
that  must  be  adopted.  This  disorder  attacks  cattle  of  all  ages.  Full- 
giown  beasts  are  more  subject  to  typhoid  than  to  inflammatory 
fever  ;  but  among  younger  ones  and  weaning  calves,  and  those  of 
eight,  nine,  and  ten  months  old,  it  is  extremely  fatal,  for  they  have 
not  strength  to  bear  up  against  this  secretly  consumino-  fire. 

The  mode  of  prevention,  when  it  first  breaks  out,  is  to  bleed  and 
physic  ;  the  grand  thing  of  all,  however,  is  to  remove  not  merely  to 
shorter,  but  to  dryer  pasture.  With  the  youngsters,  bleeding  may, 
perhaps,  be  dispensed  with  ;  but  a  dose  of  physic  should  be  given, 
and  a  seton  inserted  in  the  dewlap ;  and  the  change  of  pasture  is 
indispensable.  Low  and  damp  situations  do  not  agree  with  cattle  ; 
and  the  inhabitants  of  low,  marshy  grounds  have  too  often  a  sad  ac- 
count to  render  of  their  cattle. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — Bryonia,  twice  a  day,  is  the  remedy  best 
suited  to  the  entire  course  of  the  disease.  Acidum  muriaticum 
should  be  given  when  there  is  great  debility  and  dryness  of  the 
mouth ;  arnica,  when  the  animal  remains  stretched  without  motion, 
and  without  consciousness  ;  stramonium  and  hijoscyamus,  if  partial 
convulsions  are  observed  to  take  place  ;  arsenicum  in  watery  diarrhoea  ; 
china,  argilla,  and  sulphur,  when  the  food  comes  away  undicrested  ; 
belladonna,  in  convulsions  and  wildness  of  look  ;  opium,  when  the 
animal  is  stretched  out  as  if  dead,  with  small  pulse,  hard  faeces,  or 
constipation ;  veratrum,  in  diarrhoea  with  cold  extremities. 

THE  VEINS. 

The  principal  disease  of  the  capillary  vessels  having  thus  been 
disposed  of,  the  blood  must  be  again  traced  back  to  the  heart. 

By  means  of  the  various  important  functions  which  are  discharged 
by  the  capillaries,  the  blood  is  essentially  changed  as  it  traverses 
them.  It  becomes  black,  venous,  and  no  longer  capable  of  sustain- 
ing Ufe ;  and  it  must  be  sent  back  to  the  heart,  to  be  again  rendered 
arterial.  The  capillaries  in  which  the  blood  has  undero-one  this 
change  begin  to  unite,  and  when  a  sufficient  number  of  them  have 
joined  their  streams,  that  branch  is  called  a  vein.  The  coats  of  the 
vein  are  much  weaker  and  thinner  than  those  of  the  artery,  and  the 
blood  flows  through  them  by  a  diS'erent  principle  from  that  which 
produces  the  circulation  either  in  the  arteries  or  capillaries. 

All  the  veins  of  the  limbs,  or  that  are  subject  to  the  pressure  of 
any  of  the  muscles,  have  valves,  -which  permit  the  blood*  to  flow  on 
towards  the  heart,  but  oppose  an  insuperable  obstacle  to  its  course 
hi  a  contrary  direction  ;  thus,  by  the  pressuie  of  the  muscles,  a  cob- 


CATTLE. 


siderable  power  is,  occasionally  at  least,  called  into  exercise  to  propel 
the  blood  along  the  veins.  All  the  veins,  however,  are  not  under 
the  influence  of  these  muscles.  The  large  veins  of  the  chest  and 
belly  are  out  of  the  reach  of  muscular  pressure,  and  are  destitute  of 
this  valvular  apparatus,  but  they  are  acted  upon  by  a  more  powerful 
principle. 

The  heart  has  been  described  as  an  elastic  muscle.  It  has  scarcely 
closed  by  the  stimulus  of  tlie  organic  nerves,  when  it  expands 
ao-ain  by  its  own  inherent  elasticity  ;  and  that  important  principle,  by 
the  influence  of  which  the  water  follows  the  sucker  in  the  common 
pump — the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere — acts  here,  too,  and  the 
cavities  of  the  heart  are  filled  again  as  soon  as  they  expand  ;  and 
this  living  pump  would  work  on  while  there  was  fluid  in  circula- 
tion. Thus  the  circulation  is  maintained  by  the  action  of  the  hearty 
while  the  blood  is  passing  through  the  arteiies  ;  by  the  musculai 
power  of  the  capillaries,  while  it  permeates  those  little  vessels ;  and 
by  the  pressure  of  the  muscles  and  the  valvular  apparatus  of  the 
veins,  in  some  part  of  its  course  through  them ;  and  by  atmospheric 
pressure,  through  their  whole  extent. 

VARICOSE     VEINS. 

Varicose  tumors  in  the  cow  seldom  appear,  except  in  the  veins  of 
the  udder,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  joints  that  have  suffered  even 
more  than  usual  from  the  tumors  of  these  parts,  to  which  cattle  are 
so  liable.  An  old  cow  that  has  been  a  superior  milker,  frequently 
has  the  veins  of  the  teals  permanently  enlaiged.  No  application  will 
take  down  the  swelhng,  which,  however,  is  rarely  of  any  serious  in- 
convenience. The  veins  of  the  teats  are  sometimes  much  enlarged 
under  Garget.  Warm  fomentations,  in  order  to  abate  the  general 
inflammation  of  the  bag,  will  aff"ord  most  relief. 

THE    CHEST. 

The  form  of  the  chest  is  of  much  consequence  in  the  ox.  There 
are  important  offices  to  be  performed  by  the  viscera  of  the  chest, 
which  demand  constant  energetic  action,  over  which  the  mind  has 
no  control,  and  where  all  depends  on  the  form  and  extent  of  the 
thoracic  cavity.  The  blood  must  be  purified,  and  it  must  be  circu- 
lated through  the  frame,  and  that  with  a  rapidity  and  perfection 
which  must  not  know  a  monient's  intermission. 

The  chest  consists  of  13  ribs  on  either  side,  or  26  in  the  whole. 
Of  these  8  on  each  side  ai-e  directly  connected  with  the  sternum, 
or  breast  bi)ne,  and  are  termed  true  ribs ;  the  othei-  five  are  attached 
10  cartilao-es,  which  are  linked  together,  and  also  connected  with  the 
Bternum  in  an  indirect  manner — these  are  termed /a /se  ribs. 

The  true  ribs  are  long,  large,  thick,  and  far  apart  from  each  other; 


THE  BREAST-BONE  OF  THE  OX. 


for,  in  consequence  of  the  small  number  of  short,  or  false  ribs,  they 
take  a  more  backward  direction,  and  cover  a  portion  of  the  abdoraea 
above,  while  the  sternum  supports  it  below.  They  are  so  formed 
■IS  to  render  the  cavity  of  the  chest  of  a  quite  circular  shape. 


THE 

th( 


BREAST-DONE    OF    THE    OX. 

called  from  its  resemblance  to 


1.  The  body  of  the  sternum,  (so 
the  stern  of  a  ship,)  or  breast-bone. 

2.  The  cartilages  by  which  the  ribs  are  attached  to  the  sternum. 

3.  The  ribs  cut  oft'. 

4.  The    xiphoid   cartilage,  (resembling  a  sword,)  at  the  posterior 
part  of  the  sternum,  supporting  the  rumen. 

5.  5.  The  joints,  with  their  capsular  ligaments,  uniting  the  carti- 
lages with  the  sternum, 

6.  6.  Do.,  uniting  th:'  cartilages  with  the  ribs. 


238 


CATTLE. 


7.  The  socket  receiving  the  movable  bone  at  the  point  of  the 
stemiira. 

In  the  ox,  as  the  above  cut  will  show,  the  steniiim  is  thin  and  flat. 
It  presents  a  level  surface  of  considerable  width  for  the  floor  of  the 
chest,  and,  therefore,  insures  a  circular  form  for  the  chest. 

Breadth  at  the  breast  is  an  essential  requisite  in  the  ox.  It  is  this 
conformation  alone  which  will  give  sufficient  surface  for  the  attach- 
ment of  muscles  of  the  character  of  those  of  the  ox,  and  will  secure 
sufficient  room  for  the  lungs  to  purify,  and  the  heart  to  circulate 
blood  enough  for  the  proper  discharge  of  every  function.  The  fol- 
lowing cut  of  the  breast  of  a  short-horn  bull  will  aff'ord  a  practical 
illustration  of  these  observations. 


A    SHORT-HORN    BULL. 

The  flatness  of  the  breast-bone  at  the  base  of  the  chest  of  the 
ox  secures  ?i  2:)ermanent  sufficiency  of  capacity  ;  and  a  perfect  joint 
between  the  ribs  and  the  sternum  is  not  only  not  wanted,  but  might 
interfere  with  the  equable  action  of  the  respiratory  apparatus  in  this 
animal.  The  union,  however,  between  the  rib  and  tlie  sternum  does 
admit  of  a  considerable  degree  of  motion,  and  would,  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, contribute  to  the  enlargement  of  the  chest,  if  rapid  action,  or 
accident,  or  disease,  should  require  it. 

The  sternum  of  the  ox  has  a  pc>3ess  projecting  very  considerably 


THE  BRISKET. 


anteriorly,  but  not  closing  the  entrance  into  the  chest.  That  pro- 
cess, or  first  division  of  the  sternum,  has  a  joint.  It  admits  of  a  cer- 
tain degree  of  lateral  action  only.  It  materially  assists  the  walking 
or  other  action  of  the  animal,  and  appears  to  be  absolutely  necessa- 
ry, when  we  consider  the  vast  accumulation  of  flesh  and  fat  about 
these  parts  ;  and  especially  that  singular  collection  of  them,  the 
brisket. 

The  muscles  which  are  most  concerned  in  giving  bulk  to  the 
breast  are  the  transverse  pectorals.  They  form  the  grand  prominences 
in  front  of  the  chest,  and  extend  from  the  anterior  extremity  of  the 
sternum  to  the  middle  of  the  arm. 

The  great  pectoral  (fig.  13,  p.  209,)  arising  from  the  lateral 
and  the  posterior  part  of  the  sternum,  may  be  considered  more  as  a 
continuation  of  the  muscles  of  the  brea-^^t,  extending  laterally  and 
backward. 


THE    BRISKET. 


This  is  a  singular  portion  of  the  breast  of  the  ox,  to  which,  very 
properly,  much  importance  has  been  universally  attached,  although, 
perhaps,  on  false  grounds.  It  has  been  considered  as  a  part  of 
the  anterior  wall  of  the  chest,  and  as  a  proof  of  its  depth  and  capaci- 
ty. This  is  altogether  erroneous.  It  is  a  mere  appendix  to  the 
chest.  It  is  a  projection  of  substance,  partly  muscular,  but  more 
cellular  and  fatty,  from  the  anterior  and  movable  division  or  head 
of  the  sternum,  extending  sometimes  from  12  to  20  inches  in  front 
of  it,  and  dipping  downward  nearly  or  quite  as  much.  It  is  no 
proof  of  depth  of  chest.  It  is  found  of  a  great  size  in  all  the  im- 
proved cattle,  varying  in  size  in  different  breeds,  and  in  different  cat- 
tle of  the  same  breed ;  and  it  was  always  looked  for  and  valued  in 
the  better  specimens  of  the  old  cattle.  It  is,  at  least,  a  proof  of 
tendency  to  fatness.  A  beast  that  will  accumulate  so  much  flesh 
and  fat  about  the  brisket,  will  not  be  deficient  in  other  points. 

It  is  very  probable  that  this  may  be  carried  too  far.  An  enor- 
mously projecting  brisket  may  evince  a  more  than  usual  tendency  to 
fatten  ;  but  not  unfrequently  a  tendency  to  accumulate  that  fat  irreg- 
ularly— to  have  it  too  much  in  patches,  and  not  spread  equally  over 
the  frame.  Many  examples  of  this  must  present  themselves  to  the 
recollection  of  the  grazier,  and  especially  in  some  of  the  short- 
horn breed.  In  a  very  few  instances  it  has  been  almost  fancied  that 
this  enormously  projecting  brisket  was  a  defect,  rather  than  an  ex- 
cellence ;  at  least,  that  it  somewhat  impaired  the  uniform  beauty  of 
the  animal,  if  it  did  not  diminish  his  sterling  excellence. 

The  brisket  should  be  prominent  as  well  as  deep ;  perhaps  on  one 
account  more  prominent  than  deep,  €or  it  will  then  be  more  likely, 
either  before  or  by  the  time  it  arrives  at  the  posterior  border  of  the 
elbow  or  fore-arm,  to  have  subsided  to  the  thickness  of  the  fatty  and 


240  CATTLE. 


other  substance  naturally  covering  the  sternum.  One  defect,  but 
not  of  half  the  consequence  which  it  is  generally  supposed  to  be, 
would  then  be  avoided — the  apparen't  diminution  of  the  chest  at  its 
bottom  under  the  body  at  the  girthing  place,  or  immediately  be- 
hind the  elbows  under  the  body.  Some  have  evidently  considered 
this  to  be  an  actual  elevation  of  the  floor  of  the  chest,  and  a  conse- 
quent lessening  of  its  capacity  at  this  point ;  and,  on  that  account,  a 
most  serious  defect.  There  are  few  things  which  the  breedei-s  of 
short-horns  have  labored  more  zealously,  and  generally  more  unsuc- 
cessfully, to  remedy.  It  is  certainly  a  defect,  because  it  evinces  a 
disposition  to  accumulate  fat  in  a  somewhat  patchy  manner ;  but  it 
is  not  so  bad  as  has  been  represented  or  feared.  It  indicates  no  ele- 
vation of  the  sternum — no  diminution  of  the  capacity  of  the  chest : 
it  is  a  rather  too  sudden  termination  of  protuberance  of  the  brisket, 
either  from  the  accumulation  of  the  principal  part  of  its  substance 
too  forward,  or  from  a  want  of  disposition  in  the  beast  to  fatten  in 
an  equable  way.  If  the  brisket  were  removed,  the  bicast-bond 
would  be  found  to  be  gradually  rounding,  and  rising  from  this  spot, 
and  not  let  down  lower  between  the  elbows.  It  will  be  interesting 
to  compare  the  different  forms  of  the  brisket  in  the  different  breeds 
of  cattle.  The  bulls  on  pp.  96  and  238  will  show  how  much  varie- 
ty can  exist  in  different  animals  of  the  same  breed  ;  and  those  who 
recollect  the  portrait  of  jSIr.  C.  CoUing's  Comet,  to  whose  brisket 
few,  perhaps,  could  at  first  reconcile  themselves  so  far  as  beauty  or 
form  was  concerned,  will  be  aware  of  greater  variety  still.* 

When  the  observer  now  admires  or  wonders  at  the  protuberant  and 
unwieldy  briskets  of  these  cattle,  he  will  recognize  the  use  of  the 
joint  in  the  first,  or  supplementary,  bone  of  the  sternum  of  oxen. 
They  could  not  walk  with  ease,  and  it  would  be  scarcely  possible  for 
them  to  tuin  at  all,  if  it  were  not  for  the  lateral  motion  which  this 
joint  permits.  The  muscles  most  concerned  in  this  action,  and,  indeed, 
that  constitute  the  bulk  of  the  fleshy  part  of  the  brisket,  are  the 
anterior  portions  of  the  external  and  internal  sternocostal  muscles, 
(those  which  are  concerned  with  the  sternum  and  the  ribs,)  and  whose 
action  is  to  elevate  the  ribs,  and  so  dilate  the  chest,  and  assist  in 
breathing. 

THE  RIBS. 

The  first  rib  on  either  side  is  a  short,  rather  straight,  and  particu- 

*  It  is  to  be  observed  tbat  the  views  here  expressed  about  short-horn  briskets  are 
those  of  the  breeders  of  rival  races.  All  short-horn  breeders  hold  it  an  important 
point  to  have  the  brisket  project  in  front,  and  drop  as  low  and  be  as  wide  between  the 
legs,  as  possible.  As  short-horns  are  more  and  more  spread  over  England,  this  their 
wonderful  peculiarity  is  more  and  morF  admired;  and  the  breeders  of  other  races  are 
imitating  it,  as  far  as  attainable  in  their  breeds,  and  in  one,  the  Herefords.  it  is.  in 
some  high  bred  stocks,  well  advanced.  It  will  suffice  to  say  that  short-horn  breeders 
do  not  admit  that  a  large  brisket  indicates  a  tendency  to  fat  unevenly  ;  but  the  contra- 
ry, and  deem  it  an  evidence  of  superior  feeding  capacity  of  an  even  kind. — Am.  Ed. 


THE  SPINE.  241 


larly  strong  bone.  It  has  much  of  the  head  and  neck  to  support ; 
and  it  is  the  fulcrum  or  fixed  point  on  which  all  th?  other  bones  are 
to  move.  Each  rib  is  united  to  the  spine  by  great  strength  of  attach- 
ment. They  spring  from  the  spine  in  a  quite  horizontal  direction ; 
and  consequently,  there  is  a  provision  for  the  capacity  of  the  chest 
above  as  well  as  below.  They  are  large,  for  the  attachment  of  much 
muscle ;  they  spring  out  at  once  laterally,  in  order  to  secure  that 
permanent  capacity  of  chest  which  the  functions  of  the  ox  require. 

In  some  breeds  a  httle  flat-sidedness  (the  less  the  better)  may  be 
forgiven,  because  the  width  of  the  sternum  below,  and  of  the  spine, 
in  some  degree,  but  more  particularly  the  springing  out  of  the  ribs 
above,  secure  a  sufficient  capacity  of  chest.  It  is  on  this  account  that 
the  Devon  ox  is  active  and  profitable  while  at  work,  and  afterward 
grazes  kindly.  The  conformation  of  the  bones  just  described  gives 
him  a  considerable  capacity  of  chest,  notwithstanding  his  somewhat 
too  flat  sides :  yet  in  the  animal  which  was  chiefly  valued  for  his 
grazing  properties,  something  more  would  be  looked  for,  and  would 
be  found. 

The  shoulder  being  past,  this  horizontal  projection  of  the  ribs  is 
more  and  more  evident ;  and,  in  order  that  the  barrel-form  shall  be 
as  complete  as  can  be,  each  rib  is  twisted.  Its  posterior  edges  are 
turned  upward  and  outward  ;  and  as,  proceeding  backward,  each 
projects  beyond  the  preceding  one,  not  only  until  the  eighth  true  rib 
is  passed,  but  also  the  five  false  ones,  the  carcass  of  a  well-made, 
profitable  beast  increases  in  width  and  in  capacity,  until  we  arrive  at, 
or  nearly  at,  the  loins.  For  illustration  of  this,  reference  may  be 
made  to  the  cuts  of  the  Kyloe,  Galloway,  New  Leicester,  or  Short- 
horn cattle. 

In  point  of  fact,  however,  the  thorax  is  now  passed,  and  the  abdo- 
men presents  itself;  but  the  principle  is  the  same  :  the  ribs  are  spread 
out,  not  only  to  ajOFord  room  in  the  thorax  for  lungs  considerably 
larger  than  those  of  the  horse,  but  for  that  immense  macerating 
stomach,  the  rumen,  wich  fills  the  greater  part  of  the  abdomen,  and 
which  must  be  preserved  as  much  as  possible  from  injury  and 
pressure. 

THE    SPINE. 

The  spine  of  the  ox  has  great  size  of  the  individual  bones,  a  small 
quantity  of  elastic  ligamentous  substance  interposed  between  them, 
and  great  length  and  roughness  of  all  the  processes.  Two  objects 
are  accomplished — sufficient  strength  is  obtained  for  the  protection  of 
the  parts  beneath,  and  for  the  purposes  for  which  the  animal  may  be 
required,  and  as  much  roughened  surface  as  possible  for  the  insertion 
of  muscles.  As  the  joints  are  few,  some  provision  seems  to  be  made 
for  this,  by  their  being  comphcated. 
11 


CATTLE 


The  spinous  processes  of  the  anterior  bones  of  the  back,  constituting 
the  withers,  are  strong  but  short.  While  a  very  slight  curve  should 
mark  the  situation  of  the  withers,  the  irregularity  of  the  processes  of 
the  bones  should  never  be  visible.  Tiie  less  the  curve  the  better, 
and  no  decided  hollow  behind  should  point  out  the  place  where  the 
withers  terminate,  and  the  more  level  surface  of  the  back  commences  ; 
as  this  is  a  departure  from  good  conformation,  for  which  nothing  can 
compensate.  It  not  only  takes  away  so  much  substance  from  the 
spot  on  which  good  flesh  and  fat  should  be  thickly  laid  on,  but  it 
generally  shows  an  indisposition  to  accumulate  flesh  and  fat  in  the 
right  places. 

THE    LARYNX. 

At  the  posterior  part  of  the  pharynx,  and  at  the  top  of  the  wind-, 
pipe,  we  find  a  curiously  constructed  cartilaginous  box,  called  the 
larynx.  It  is  the  guard  of  the  lungs,  lest  particles  of  food,  or  any 
injurious  substance,  should  penetrate  into  the  air-passages,  and  it  is  at 
the  same  time  the  instrument  of  voice.  (See  cut,  p.  196.)  Every 
portion  of  food,  Avhether  swallowed  or  returned  for  the  purpose  of 
re-mastication,  passes  over  it ;  and  it  would  be  scarcely  possible  to 
avoid  frequent  inconvenience,  and  danger  of  suffocation,  were  it  not 
for  a  lid  or  covering  to  the  entrance  of  this  box,  termed  the  epiglottis, 
(fig.  5,)  which  yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  food  passing  over  it,  and 
lies  flat  on  the  entrance  into  the  windpipe,  and,  being  of  a  cartila- 
ginous structure,  rises  again  by  its  inherent  elasticity  as  soon  as  the 
pellet  has  been  forced  along,  and  permits  the  animal  to  breathe  again. 
The  whole  of  the  larynx  is  composed  of  separate  cartilages,  to  which 
muscles  are  attached,  that  regulate  the  size  of  the  opening  into  the 
windpipe,  as  the  voice  or  alteration  in  breathing  from  exertion  or 
disease,  may  require.  Fig.  1 1  gives  a  view  of  the  rimce  glottidis,  or 
edge  of  the  glottis,  or  opening  into  the  windpipe.  It  is  small, 
because  little  speed  is  required  in  the  labor  of  the  ox,  and  there  is 
rarely  any  hurried  or  distressed  breathing. 

But  although  the  opening  into  the  windpipe  is  small,  there  is 
danger  of  substances  getting  into  it,  for  all  the  food  passes  thrice 
over  it ;  and  at  its  first  passage  is  formed  into  a  very  loose  and 
imperfect  pellet.  Provision  is  made  for  this ;  the  epiglottis  of  the  ox 
is  broad  :  it  more  than  covers  the  opening  into  the  windpipe.  The 
breathing  is  seldom  hurried,  and  the  food  passes  often  over  the 
opening,  and  therefore  the  epiglottis  is  broad  and  rounded,  (fig.  5, 
p.  190,)  and  overlapping  on  either  side,  and  at  the  angle  of 
the  opening  ;  the  cartilage  of  which  it  is  composed  is  thin,  its  rounded 
extremity  is  curled — turned  back — so  as  to  yield  and  he  pressed  down, 
and  give  an  uninterrupted  passage,  and  securely  cover  the  opening 
wlien  the  food  is  returned ;  while  also,  from  its  thinness,  it  yields  in 


TRACHEOTOMY. 


another  way,  and  uncurls  and  covers  the  opening  when  the  food  is 
swallowed. 

The  arytsenoid  cartilages  (fig.  6)  are  small  in  the  ox  :  the  thyroid 
cartilages  (fig.  7)  are  large.  The  interior  of  the  larynx  of  the  ox — 
the  organ  of  voice — is  more  simple  than  in  any  other  domesticated 
animal.  There  is  neither  membrane  across  the  opening,  nor  are  there 
any  duplicatures  of  membrane  resembling  sacs  within  the  larynx ;  in 
fact,  his  voice  is  the  least  capable  of  modulation  of  any  of  our  quad- 
ruped servants. 

THE  WINDPIPE. 

The  trachea,  or  windpipe,  of  cattle  is  small,  because  much  air  is 
not  wanted.  The  ox  is  not  a  beast  of  speed,  and  he  rarely  goes 
beyond  the  walk  or  trot.  The  cartilagino^.s  rings  are  narrow  (fig.  9, 
cut,  p.  196),  and  thick.  The  interposed  ligamentous  substance  is 
weak  (fig,  10,  p.  196).  A  tube  of  loose  construction  is  suffi- 
cient for  the  portion  of  air  which  the  ox  needs  in  respiration  ;  an^ 
gathering  usually  the  whole  of  his  food  from  the  ground,  and  gather- 
ing it  slowly,  and  being  longer  occupied  about  i*  more  freedom  of 
motion,  and  a  greater  degree  of  extension,  are  reqm  te. 

In  addition  to  this,  there  is  no  careful  and  intricate  overlapping  of 
the  cartilages  behind ;  they  are  simply  brought  into  approximation 
with  each  other  ;  and  their  opposing  edges  project  behind  so  that 
they  are  very  loosely  bound  to  the  cervical  vertebrae.  There  is  no 
transverse  muscle,  because  the  cahber  of  the  tube  can  seldom  or 
never  be  much  varied,  but,  by  way  of  compensation,  the  lining  mem- 
brane of  the  trachea  is  dense,  extensible,  and  elastic,  and  capable  of 
discharging,  although  imperfectly,  a  function  similar  to  that  of  the 
transverse  muscle.  At  the  lower  part  of  the  windpipe,  the  triangular 
prolongation  of  cartilage  for  the  defence  of  the  tube  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  lungs  is  small.  The  rings  of  the  windpipe  of 
the  ox  are  about  60. 

TRACHEOluMY. 

Although  there  are  few  diseases  of  cattle  in  which  the  animal  is 
threatened  with  suffocation,  yet  occasionally  in  blain,  in  inflammation 
of  the  parotid  gland,  and  in  those  varieties  of  fever  which  in  the  ox 
are  so  much  characterized  by  the  formation  of  tumors,  there  will  be 
pressure  on  the  windpipe,  much  contracting  its  caliber,  and  rendering 
the  act  of  respiration  laborious,  and  almost  impracticable.  In  inflam- 
mation of  the  larynx,  to  which  cattle  are  much  exposed,  the  distress- 
ing labor  of  breathing  is  scarcely  credible. 

Tracheotomy,  or  the  formation  of  an  artificial  opening  into  the 
windpipe,  is  an  operation  very  easily  and  safely  performed.     The 


244  CATTLE. 


beast  should  be  secured,  and  the  hair  cut  closely  from  the  throat, 
over  the  windpipe,  and  opposite  to  the  fifth  or  sixth  ring:.  The  skin 
is  then  tightened  by  the  finger  and  thumb,  and  an  incision  is  made 
through  it,  at  least  three  incnes  in  length.  This  must  be  carefully 
dissected  off  from  the  parts  beneath,  and  then  a  portion  of  the  wind- 
pipe, half  an  inch  wide,  and  an  inch  in  length,  carefully  cut  out. 
The  lips  of  the  wound  should  be  kept  open  by  threads  passed  through 
the  edges  and  tied  over  the  neck,  until  the  pressure  or  inflammation 
above  no  longer  exists,  and  then  they  may  be  brought  together  and 
the  wound  healed. 

It  is  wonderful  what  instantaneous  and  perfect  relief  this  operation 
affords.  The  beast  that  was  struggling  for  breath,  and  seemed  every 
moment  ready  to  expire,  is  in  a  moment  himself. 

In  cases  of  permanent  obstruction,  as  tumor  in  the  nostrils,  or  dis- 
tortion of  the  larynx  or  trachea,  the  animal  will  generally  be  consigned 
to  the  butcher ;  but  instances  ma}'-  occur  in  which  it  is  desirable  to 
preserve  the  beast  for  the  sake  of  breeding,  or  for  other  purposes. 
Then  a  tube  may  be  introduced  into  the  opening,  two  or  three  inches 
long,  curved  at  the  top,  and  the  external  orifice  turning  downward, 
with  a  little  ring  on  each  side,  by  which,  through  the  means  of  tapes, 
it  may  be  retained  in  its  situation.  A  favorite  cow  or  bull  might  be 
thus  preserved,  but  extraordinary  cases  alone  would  justify  such  a 
proceeding. 

THE  THYMUS    GLAND,  OR  SWEETBREAD. 

There  is  an  irregular  glandular  body,  of  a  pale  pink  color,  situated 
in  the  very  fore  part  of  the  thorax,  vulgarly  called  the  sweetbread. 
In  the  early  period  of  the  life  of  the  foetus,  it  is  of  no  considerable 
size,  and  is  confined  mostly  to  the  chest ;  but  during  the  latter 
months  it  strangely  develops  itself.  It  protrudes  from  the  thorax  ; 
it  climbs  up  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  between  the  carotids  and  the 
trachea,  and  reaches  even  to  the  parotid  gland,  and  becomes  a  part 
of  that  gland.  It  cannot  be  separated  from  the  parotid  ;  and  when 
cut  into,  a  milky  fluid  exudes  from  it. 

Very  soon  after  birth,  however,  a  singular  change  takes  place  ;  it 
spontaneously  separates  from  the  parotid  ;  it  gradually  disappears, 
beginning  from  above  downward  ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  months 
not  a  vestige  of  it  remains  along  the  whole  of  the  neck.  It  then 
more  slowly  diminishes  within  the  chest ;  but  at  length  it  disappears 
there  too,  and  its  situation  is  occupied  by  the  thoracic  duct. 

It  is  evidently  connected  with  the  existence  of  the  animal  previous 
to  birth,  and  more  particularly  with  the  latter  stages  of  foetal  life. 
It  seems  to  be  part  of  the  nutritive  system.  It  pours  a  bland  and 
milky  fluid  through  the  parotid  duct  into  the  mouth,  and  so  into  the 
stomach,  in  order  to  habituate  the  stomach  by  degrees  to  the  digest- 


THE  ALTERATION  OF  THE  BLOOD.  245 

ive  process,  and  to  prepare  it  for  that  function  on  which  the  hfe  of 
the  animal  is  to  depend;  and  also  to  prepare  the  intestines  for  the 
discharge  of  their  duty.  When,  after  birth,  it  begins  to  be  separated 
from  the  parotid  gland,  it  has  no  means  of  pouring  its  secretion  into 
the  stomach,  ancl  it  gradually  dwindles  away,  and  disappears. 
■» 

THE  BRONCHIAL  TUBES, 

The  windpipe  pursues  its  course  down  the  neck,  until  it  arrives  at 
the  chest.  It  there  somewhat  alters  its  form,  and  becomes  deeper 
and  narrower,  in  order  to  suit  itself  to  the  triangular  opening  through 
which  it  is  to  pass.  It  enters  the  chest,  and  preserves  the  same 
cartilaginous  structure  until  it  ariives  at  the  base  of  the  heart,  where 
it  separates  into  two  tubes,  corresponding  with  the  two  divisions  of 
the  lungs.  These  are  called  the  bronchial  tubes.  They  plunge 
deep  into  th?  substance  of  the  lungs  ;  these  presently  subdivide  ;  and 
the  subdivision  is  continued  in  every  direction,  until  branches  of  the 
trachea  penetrate  every  portion  of  the  lungs.  These  are  still  air- 
passages,  and  they  are  carrying  on  the  air  to  its  destination,  for  the 
accomplishment  of  a  vital  purpose.  The  lungs  of  the  ox  afford  the 
most  satisfactory  elucidation  of  the  manner  in  which  these  air-tubes 
traverse  that  viscus.  '1  hey  can  be  followed  until  they  almost  elude 
the  unassisted  sight,  but  the  greater  part  of  them  can  be  evidently 
traced  into  the  lobuli,  or  little  divisions  of  the  substance  of  the  lung, 
which  are  so  evident  here.  The  minute  structure  of  these  lobuli  has 
never  been  demonstrated  ;  but  we  may  safely  imagine  them  to  con- 
sist of  very  small  cells,  in  which  the  bronchial  tubes  terminate,  and  to 
which  the  air  is  conveyed  ;  and  that  these  cells  are  divided  from 
each  other  by  exceedingly  delicate  membranes. 

THE   ALTERATION   OF  THE   BLOOD. 

The  blood  has  already  been  described  as  sent  from  the  right  ven- 
tricle of  the  heart  into  the  lung,  and  the  blood-vessels  dividing  and 
subdividing  until  they  have  attained  a  state  of  extreme  minuteness, 
and  then  ramifying  over  the  dehcate  membrane  of  these  cells.  The 
blood,  however,  is  in  a  venous  state  ;  it  is  no  longer  capable  of  sup- 
porting life ;  and  it  is  forced  through  the  lungs,  in  order  that  it 
may  be  rendered  once  more  arterial,  and  capable  of  supporting  life 
and  all  its  functions.  For  this  purpose,  these  minute  veins  spread 
over  the  delicate  membrane  of  the  cells,  and  for  this  purpose  also,  the 
air  has  been  conveyed  to  these  cells  by  the  bronchial  tubes. 

Now,  the  chemical,  it  may  almost  be  said  the  vital,  difference  be- 
tween venous  and  arterial  blood  is,  that  the  venous  is  loaded  with 
carbon,  and  deficient  in  oxygen.  It  here  comes,  if  not  in  absolute 
contact  with  atmospheric  air,  yet  so  close  as  to  be  separated  only 
by  a  gossamer  membrane,  which  offers  little  obstacle  to  the  power  of 


#46  CATTLE 


chemical  affinity  or  attraction  ;  and  the  carbon  which  it  contains  is 
attracted  by  the  oxygen  which  abounds  in  the  atmospheric  air,  and 
is  taken  out  of  the  circuhition,  and  passes  off  in  breathing.  Carbonic 
acid  gas,  or  fixed  air,  is  formed  by  the  union  of  the  oxygen  and  the 
carbon,  the  presence  of  which  in  undue  quantities  renders  the  air 
destructive  to  hfe.  The  other  constituents  of  the  blo^  have  also  an 
affinity  for  oxygen,  and  more  of  that  gas  is  taken  from  the  atmos- 
pheric air,  and  passes  through  the  membrane  of  the  air-cells,  and 
mingles  with  the  blood. 

The  change,  then,  from  venous  to  arterial  blood  consists  in  the  car- 
bon being  taken  away,  and  oxygen  imbibed ;  and  this  is  effected  by 
the  blood  being  brought  so  nearly  into  contact  with  atmospheric  air, 
of  which  oxygen  is  a  constituent  part,  and  which  has  a  greater 
affinity  for  carbon,  and  other  principles  in  the  blood,  than  it  has  for 
the  gases  with  which  it  was  combine.  ^  in  the  constitution  of  atmos- 
pheric air. 

The  capillary  vessels,  now  carrying  arterial  instead  of  venous  blood, 
unite  and  form  larger  and  yet  larger  vessels,  until  the  united  stream 
is  poured  into  the  right  cavity  of  the  heart,  thence  to  be  propelled 
through  the  frame.  This  subject  has  been  treated  at  somewhat 
greater  length,  because  the  lungs  of  the  ox  afford  the  best  illustration 
of  the  division  of  the  bronchial  tubes,  and  the  separation  of  the  sub- 
stance of  the  lungs  into  distinct  lobuli,  or  little  lobes,  in  which  the 
bronchial  tubes  terminate,  and  the  air-cells  are  developed. 

CATARRH,    OR  HOOSE. 

Anatomical  detail  may  now,  for  a  considerable  time,  be  laid  aside, 
and  inquiry  be  made  into  the  diseases  of  the  respiratory  organs. 
Those  only  of  the  first  of  the  air- passages,  that  of  the  nose,  have  as 
yet  been  considered  ;  however,  inflammation  spreads  beyond  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  nasal  cavities,  and  involves  the  fauces,  the 
glands  of  the  throat,  and  the  upper  air-passages  generally  ;  it  is  then 
no  longer  coryza,  but  is  catarrh,  or  better  known  by  the  term  hoose. 
This  is  a  disease  too  little  regarded  in  cattle,  but  the  forerunner  of 
the  most  frequent  and  fatal  diseases  to  which  they  are  subject. 

It  is  often  hard  to  say  whence  catarrh,  or  common  cold,  arises. 
The  slightest  change  of  management  or  of  temperature  will  some- 
times produce  it.  In  the  beginning  of  spring,  and  towards  the  latter 
part  of  autumn,  it  is  particularly  prevalent.  Young  beasts,  and  cows 
after  calving,  are  ve^y  subject  to  it.  In  a  great  many  cases,  how- 
ever, it  is  the  result  of  mismanagement.  When  cattle  are  crowded 
together,  they  are  seldom  witliout  hoose.  If  the  cow-house  be  heated 
considerably  above  the  temperature  of  the  external  air,  it  is  sure 
to  be  there.  Many  a  sad  cold  is  caught  at  the  straw-yard,  and 
particularly  by  young  cattle :    the  food    is  not  sufficient   to  afford 


CATARRH,  OR  HOOSE.  247 

proper  nourishment,  or  to  keep  up  proper  warmth ;  and  the  more 
forward  drive  the  others  about,  and  permit  them  to  obtain  only 
a  small  portion  of  their  proper  share  of  the  provender,  and  then 
the  depressing  effects  of  cold,  and  vret,  and  hunger,  so  debilitate 
these  poor  beasts,  that  they  are  seldom  without  catarrh — and  that 
catarrh  too  frequently  runs  on  to  a  more  serious  disease. 

Some  breeds  are  more  subject  to  hoose  than  others.  The  na- 
tives of  a  southern  district  are  seldom  naturalized  in  a  colder 
chme  without  several  times  passing  through  severe  catarrh  ;  and, 
where  the  system  of  breeding  in  and  in  has  been  carried  to  too 
great  an  extent,  and  been  pursued  in  defiance  of  many  a  warn- 
ing, hoose,  perpetually  occurring,  difficult  to  remove,  and  degene- 
rating into  confirmed  phthisis,  will  painfully,  but  somewhat  too 
late,  convince  the  farmer  of  his  mistake. 

The  principal  error,  however,  of  the  agriculturist  is,  not  that  he 
suffers  the  causes  of  hoose  to  exist,  or  always  gives  them  exist- 
ence, but  that  he  underrates  the  mischievous  and  fatal  character  of 
the  disease.  To  this  point  we  shall  refer  again  and  again  ;  and  if 
we  can  but  induce  him  to  listen  to  the  dictates  of  -humanity  and  of 
interest,  the  present  treatise  may  rank  among  those  which  have  dif- 
fused some  useful  knowledge. 

There  is  no  disease  of  a  chronic  nature  by  which  cattle  are  so  se- 
riously injured,  or  which  is  eventually  so  fatal  to  them,  as  hoose  ; 
yet  very  few  of  those  whose  interest  is  at  stake,  pay  the  slightest 
attention  to  it.  The  cow  may  cough  on  from  week  to  week,  and  no 
one  takes  notice  of  it  until  the  quantity  of  milk  is  seriously  decreas- 
ing, or  she  is  rapidlj^  losing  flesh,  and  then  medical  treatment  is 
generally  unavailing.  The  disease  has  now  reached  the  chest ;  the 
lungs  are  seriously  affected ;  and  the  foundation  is  laid  for  confirmed 
consumption. 

It  is  far  from  the  wish  of  the  author  to  inculcate  a  system  of  over- 
nursing.  He  knows  full  well  that  those  cattle  are  most  healthy 
that  are  exposed  to  the  usual  changes  of  the  weather,  yet  somewhat 
sheltered  from  its  greatest  inclemency.  He  Avould  not  consider 
every  cow  that  hooses  as  a  sick  animal,  and  shut  her  up  in  some 
close  place,  and  physic  and  drench  her,  but  would  endeavor  to  pre- 
vail on  the  farmer  to  be  a  great  deal  more  on  the  look-out.  The 
herdsman  should  be  aware  of  every  beast  that  coughs.  It  may  be 
only  a  slight  cold,  and  in  a  few  days  may  disappear  of  itself.  He 
may  wait  and  see  whether  it  will,  unless  there  be  some  urgent  symp- 
toms; but,  these  few  days  having  passed,  and  the  cow  continuing  to 
hoose,  it  begins  to  be  imperatively  necessary  for  him  to  adopt  the 
proper  measures,  while  they  may  be  serviceable. 

If  she  feed  as  well  as  ever,  if  moisture  stand  upon  her  muzzle,  and 
>T",r  flanks  are  perfectly  quiet,  then  one  or  two  nights'  housing,  and 

nash  or  two,  oi  a  dose  of  physic,  may  set  all  right.     But  if  tha 


248  CATTLE. 

muzzle  be  a  little  dry,  and  the  root  of  the  horn  hot,  and  she  heaves 
(although  not  much)  at  the  flanks,  and  the  coat  is  not  so  sleek  as 
usual,  and  she  is  a  little  oflf  her  feed,  let  her  be  bled.  Experience 
will  teach  the  farmer  that  these  ch.st  affections,  in  cattle,  often  and 
speedily  assume  a  highly  inflammable  character,  and  that  they  must 
be  conquered  at  the  first,  or  not  at  all. 

To  bleeding  should  succeed  a  dose  of  Epsom  salts,  with  half  an 
ounce  of  ginger  in  it,  to  prevent  griping  and  to  promote  perspiration, 
and  to  excite  the  rumen  to  action  ;  but  no  hot,  stimulating  drinks. 
To  this  should  be  added  warmth,  warm  mashes,  warm  drinks,  warm 
gruels,  and  a  warm  but  well  ventilated  cow-house. 

Cough  and  Fever  Drink. — Take  emetic  tartar,  one  drachm  ;  pow- 
dered digitalis,  half  a  drachm  ;  and  nitre,  three  drachms.  Mix,  and 
give  in  a  quart  of  tolerably  thick  gruel. 

Purging  Drink. — Take  Epsom  salts,  one  pound  ;  powdered  cara- 
way-seeds, half  an  ounce.  Dissolve  in  a  quart  of  warm  gruel,  and 
give. 

It  will  be  proper  to  house  the  beast,  and  especially  at  night ;  and 
a  mash  of  scalded  bran  with  a  few  oats  in  it,  if  there  be  no  fever, 
should  be  allowed.  It  is  necessary  carefully  to  watch  the  animals 
that  are  laboring  under  this  complaint ;  and,  if  the  heaving  should 
continue,  or  the  muzzle  again  become  or  continue  dry,  and  the 
breath  hot,  more  blood  should  be  taken  away,  and  the  purging  drink 
repeated.  At  the  close  of  the  epidemic  catarrh,  the  animal  will 
sometimes  be  left  weak  and  with  little  appetite.  It  should  be  weL 
ascertained  whether  the  fever  has  quite  left  the  beast,  because  list- 
lessness  and  disinclination  to  move,  and  loss  of  appetite,  and  slight 
staggering,  may  result  as  much  from  the  continuance  of  fever  as 
from  the  debihty  which  it  leaves  behind.  If  the  muzzle  be  cool  and 
moist,  and  the  mouth  not  hot,  and  the  pulse  sunk  to  nearly  its  natu- 
ral standard,  or  rather  below  it,  and  weak  and  low,  the  following 
drink  may  be  ventured  on  : 

Take  emetic  tartar,  half  a  drachm  ;  nitre,  two  drachms  ;  powdered 
gentian  root,  one  drachm  ;  powdered  chamomile  flowers,  one  drachm  : 
and  powdered  ginger,  half  a  drachm.  Pour  upon  them  a  pint  of 
boiling  ale,  and  give  the  infusion  when  nearly  cold. 

When  the  beast  begins  to  recover,  he  should  not  be  exposed  in 
any  bleak  situation,  or  to  much  rough  weather. 

In  some  years  this  epidemic  disease  destroys  a  great  many  cattle. 
In  the  winter  of  1880,  and  in  the  spring  of  1831,  thousands  of 
young  cattle  perished  in  every  part  of  the  country.  Some  of  them 
were  carefully  examined  after  death,  and  the  membrane  hning  the 
windpipe  was  found  to  be  inflamed,  and  the  inflammation  extending 
down  to  and  involving  all  the  small  passages  leading  to  the  air-cells 
of  the  lungs,  and  the  passages  filled  with  worms. 

There  are  some  substances  which  are  immediately  destructive  to 


COUGH. 


worms  when  brought  into  contact  with  them.  Some  of  these  medi- 
caments may  be  taken  into  the  circulation  of  the  animal  with  perfect 
safety  to  him,  and  probably  death  to  the  worms.  Among  those 
which  most  readily  enter  into  the  circulation  after  being  swallowed,  is 
the  oil  or  spiiit  of  turpentine.  The  breath  is  very  soon  afterwards 
tainted  with  its  smell,  which  shows  that  a  portion  of  it  has  passed 
into  the  lungs.  Therefore,  when  other  means  have  failed,  and  the 
continuance  of  the  violent  cough  renders  it  extremely  probable  that 
worms  are  in  the  air -passages,  the  follo^\^ng  prescription  may  be  re- 
sorted to  : 

Turpentine  Drink  for  Worms. — Take  oil  of  turpentine,  two  ounces  ; 
sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  one  ounce  ;  laudanum,  half  an  ounce  ;  hnseed 
oil,  four  ounces.     Mix,  and  give  in  a  pint  of  gruel. 

This  may  be  repeated  every  morning  without  the  slightest  danger; 
and  even  when  we  are  a  little  afraid  to  give  it  longer  by  the  mouth, 
it  may  be  thrown  up  in  the  form  of  an  injection.  A  pint  of  lime 
water  every  morning,  and  two  table-spoonfulls  of  salt  every  after- 
noon, have  also  been  administered  with  advantage  when  worms  are 
present  in  the  windpipe. 

Should  the  case  appear  to  be  obstinate,  the  exhibition  of  half 
doses  of  physic  e'^ery  second  or  third  day  will  often  be  useful,  with 
the  followinor  drink,  mornincr  and  nij^ht,  on  each  of  the  intermediate 
days : — 

Take  digitalis,  one  scruple;  emetic  tartar,  half  a  drachm;  nitre, 
three  drachms  ;  powdered  squills,  one  drachm ;  opium,  one  scruple. 
Mix,  and  give  v,'ith  a  pint  of  gruel. 

A  seton  in  the  dewlap  should  never  be  omitted  ;  and  if  the  disease 
seems  to  be  degenerating  into  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  the  treat- 
ment must  be  correspondingly  active. 

The  termination  of  hoose  that  is  most  to  be  feared  is  consumption. 
That  will  be  indicated  when  the  discharge  from  the  nose  becomes 
purulent,  or  blnody,  and  the  breath  stinking,  and  the  cough  con- 
tinues to  be  violent,  while  the  beast  feeds  badly,  nnd  the  eyes  begin 
to  appear  sunk  in  the  head,  and  he  rapidly  loses  flesh.  The  best 
remedy  here,  so  far  as  both  the  owner  and  the  animal  are  concerned, 
is  the  pole-axe  of  the  butcher  ;  for  in  the  early  part  of  the  disease 
the  meat  is  not  at  all  injured,  and  may  be  honestly  sold.  If,  how- 
ever, it  is  wished  that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  save  the  animal, 
the  cough  and  fever  drink  may  be  given  daily  ;  more  attention  should 
be  paid  to  the  warmth  and  comfort  of  the  beast ;  and,  if  the  weather 
be  favorable,  it  should,  after  a  while,  be  turned  out,  either  entirely,  or 
during  the  day.  Care,  however,  must  be  taken  to  protect  the  animal 
from  all  slorms  ;  and  if  it  be  summer,  green  food  should  be  given  in 
the  stable. 

Homoeopathic    Treatment. — A    cough,  at    first    dull    and   hollow, 
excited  by  the  least  effort,  and  more  particularly  violent  after  the 
11* 


CATTLE. 


animal  has  drunk,  generally  indicates  a  more  or  less  serious  afifection 
of  the  lung.  If  a  severe  cough  attack  the  animal,  great  attention 
must  be  paid  to  it,  because  in  such  cases  we  frequently  have  to  treat 
commencing  hydrothorax.  The  means  to  bt  adopted  when  no  other 
symptoms  of  disease  are  observed,  are  :  dulcamara,  in  cough  by 
cold;  hryonia  (in  repeated  doses,)  in  inveterate  cough  ;  belladonna 
and  drosera,  in  chronic  cough  ;  hyoscyamus,  when  the  attacks  are 
very  frequent ;  squilla,  in  cough  which  comes  on  after  fatigue,  and 
which  interferes  with  the  respiration  ;  chamomilla,  in  dry  cough,  with 
diarrhoea;  jmlsatilla.  in  frequent  attacks  of  dry  cough,  with  loss  of 
appetite  ;  spiritus  sulphuratus,  in  very  obstinate  cough.  When  the 
cough  is  the  symptom  of  another  disease,  it  yields  to  the  treatment 
required  by  the  latter. 

When  the  entire  system  has  suffered  more  or  less,  the  affection  is 
accompanied  with  fever  of  greater  or  less  severity  ;  some  doses  of 
aconitumy  the  first  remedy  to  be  employed  in  such  cases,  never  fail 
to  produce  excellent  effects.  If  the  cold  affect  but  a  part  of  the 
body,  we  scarcely  ever  observe  any  fever,  and  hryonia  is  to  be  ad- 
ministered. In  many  cases  considerable  benefit  has  been  obtained 
from  dulcamara,  nux  vomica,  and  rhus  toxicodendron.  Arsenicum  is 
good  when  the  digestion  is  disturbed,  or  the  complaint  has  been  oc- 
casioned by  a  cold  drink. 

EPIDEMIC    CATARRH. 

Catarrh  occasionally  assumes  an  epidemic  form ;  it  spreads  over 
whole  districts  ;  is  more  than  usually  violent ;  associates  with  itself 
the  symptoms  of  other  and  of  worse  diseases,  and  is  strangely  fatal. 
If  a  cold  yet  variable  spring  succeeds  to  a  wet  and  mild  winter, 
there  will  "be  scarcely  a  dairy  or  a  straw-yard  in  some  districts  in 
which  a  considerable  number  of  cows  will  not  labor  under  distressing 
hoose.  Obstinate  costiveness  attends  the  earl)^  stage  of  this  disease, 
on  which  neither  Epsom  salts,  nor  common  salt,  nor  linseed  oil,  can 
make  any  impression.  All  seems  to  go  into  the  rumen,  and  has  for 
a  while  no  power  on  the  cuticular  coat  of  that  stomach  ;  and  then, 
whether  the  purgative  course  be  pursued  or  suspended,  diarrhoea 
suddenly  comes  on,  and  bids  equal  defiance  to  all  astringent  medi- 
cines. Sometimes,  however,  diarrhoea  is  present,  and  obstinate  from 
the  very  beginning. 

Tumors  about  the  head,  the  roots  of  the  ears,  the  neck,  the  back, 
and  loins,  and  many  of  the  joints,  soon  succeed,  accompanied  by  a 
singular  crackhng  sound  when  pressed  upon.  There  is  decomposi- 
tion going  on  everywhere,  and  in  the  cellular  texture  among  the 
rest,  accompanied  by  the  extrication  of  gas,  the  passage  of  which 
among  the  cells  beneath  the  skin  is  the  cause  of  this  crackling. 

While  these  tumors  indicate  decomposition  in  one  part,  the  ap- 
pearance and  odor  o:  the  faeces  show  that  it  is  not  inactive  in  the 


EPIDEMIC  CATARRH.  251 


intestinal  canal.  The  discharge  is  oflfensive  to  a  high  degree,  the 
breath  loses  its  peculiar  and  beautiful  scent,  and  the  vital  powers  are 
rapidly  exhausted. 

In  most  of  these  epidemics,  the  first  attack  seems  to  be  made  on 
the  powers  of  organic  life,  and  soon  afterwards  the  animal  system 
shares  in  the  deleterious  influence.  The  beast  is  unwilHng  to  move ; 
it  scarcely  can  move  ;  it  staggers  as  it  walks.  It  loses  flesh  every 
day  ;  the  coat  stares,  and  clings  to  the  bones  ;  the  appetite  is  quite 
gone;  a  fetid  discharge  commences  from  the  mouth  and  nostrils, 
and  death  soon  follows. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  in  ivi  early  stage,  and  when  alone  it 
can  be  treated  with  reasonable  hope  of  success,  may  be  character- 
ized under  two  words — promptitude  and  vigor.  The  state  of  inflam- 
matory fever  which  accompanies  the  early  period  of  the  disease  is  in- 
tense ;  and  unless  arrested,  it  will  (as  we  have  seen  in  ti-eating  of  that 
disease)  speedily  exhaust  every  vital  power  ;  therefore,  fever  existing, 
bleeding  is  imperative.  The  quantity  of  blood  to  be  abstracted  will 
be  regulated  by  the  intensity  of  the  inflammation,  the  apparent  ap- 
proach or  commencement  of  debility,  and  the  efi'ect  produced  while 
the  blood  continues  to  flow.  All  of  these  circumstances  should  be 
most  carefully  attended  to.  If  the  fever  rages,  the  ox  will  bear  to 
lose  much  blood,  and  uniformly  with  manifest  advantage.  If  the  state 
of  debility  is  evidently  approaching,  or  has  even  commenced,  bleed- 
ing, regulated  by  the  pulse,  and  stopped  the  moment  that  that  fal- 
ters, wfll  generally  be  beneficial :  but  debility  being  established,  or 
the  bleeding  carried  on  after  the  p^^lse  has  forbidden  it,  the  abstrac- 
tion of  blood  will  only  hasten  death. 

Aperients  should  undoubtedly  be  administered,  accompanied  or 
not  by  aroraatics,  or  the  p-oportion  of  the  aromatic  regulated  by 
the  preponderance  of  fever  or  debility.  The  sulphate  of  magnesia 
will  be  preferred  ;  and  early  recouree  should  be  had  to  the  stomach- 
pump,  in  the  manner  which  has  been  already  described,  should  the 
phvsic  seem  to  accumulate  in  the  paunch. 

The  other  medicines  will  also  be  regulated  by  the  symptoms. 
While  fever  continues,  digitalis,  emetic  tartar,  and  nitre  will  be  indi- 
cated. When  the  febrile  stage  is  passed,  spirit  of  nitrous  ether, 
laudanum,  gentian,  and  ginger  will  be  indicated.  The  cow-house 
should  be  warm,  yet  well  ventilated.  Mashes  should  be  given,  and 
green  meat  of  eveiy  kind,  and  this  changed  daily,  if  necessary,  in 
order  to  humor  the  capricious  appetite  of  the  patient.  The  strength 
being  a  Uttle  renovated,  the  beast  may  be  turned  into  some 
pasture,  close  at  hand,  for  a  few  hours  during  the  middle  of  the 
day. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  principal  means  to  be  employed  in 
such  cases,  as  well  as  in  the  case  of  cough  in  general,  are  :  dulca- 
mara and  hry  mia,  in  the  cough  which  has  succeeded  to  a  cold ;  «*Mt 


252  CATTLE. 


vomica,  in  the  dry  and  loud  cough  ;  aconitum  and  arsenicum,  in  that 
which  comes  on  every  time  the  animal  drinks  cold  water ;  drosera, 
in  that  which  has  already  become  chronic  ;  pulsatilla  and  hyoscya- 
mus,  in  that  which  is  dry  and  returns  in  kinks  ;  chamomilla,  in  dry 
cough  with  diarrhcea  ;  ammonium  nmriaficum,  cuprum,  and  bryonia, 
in  inveterate  cough  ;  and,  in  general,  sulphur,  in  many  cases  of  dis- 
tressing and  more  especially  obstinate  coughs. 

THE    MALIGNAXT    EPIDEMIC MURRAIX. 

Epidemic  catarrh  often  assumes  a  malignant  form  in  cattle,  on  ac- 
count of  the  great  vascularity  of  the  system,  and  intensity  of  febrile 
action,  and  consequent  vital  exhaustion.  It  also  appears  as  a  dis- 
ease which  is  malignant  from  its  very  commencement.  Indeed  tliere 
is  no  disease  so  malignant  as  the  murrain  of  cattle,  and  there  are 
few  years  in  which  it  is  not  now  seen  in  some  part  of  the  kingdom. 
It  is  ranked  under  the  diseases  of  the  respiratory  system,  because 
that  system  is  usually  first  of  all  affected,  and  for  a  longer  or  shorter 
time  alone  affected  ;  but  the  disease  gradually  takes  on  a  typhoid 
character,  and  its  pestilential  influence  invades  every  portion  of  the 
frame.  It  principally  appears  in  marshy  and  woody  districts,  or 
"where  under-draining  has  been  neglected,  or  the  cattle  have  been  ex- 
posed and  half-starved. 

There  are  few  diseases  that  assume,  in  its  earlier  or  later  stages, 
a  greater  variety  of  forms  ;  but,  disarmed  somewhat  of  its  virulence, 
or  at  least  having  not  appeared  in  all  its  terrors  for  some  years  past, 
it  will  generally  be  distinguished  by  some  or  the  greater  part  of  the 
following  symptoms. 

There  will  be  cough,  frequent  and  painful,  and,  in  many  cases, 
for  a  week  or  more  before  there  is  any  other  marked  symptom.  The 
farmer  may  not  always  be  aware  of  this,  but  he  will  find  it  out  if 
he  inquires  about  it ;  and  he  will  be  fully  aware  of  the  importance 
of  the  fact  before  we  have  done  wnth  this  division  of  our  subject. 

After  a  few  days,  some  heaving  of  the  flanks  will  be  added  to  the 
cough  ;  the  pulse  will  be  small,  hard,  frequent,  and  sometimes  ir- 
reguUir ;  the  mouth  hot ;  tlie  root  of  the  horn  cold  ;  the  faeces  some- 
times hard  and  black,  at  others  liquid  and  black,  and  then  very  fetid. 
Presently  afterwards,  that  of  which  we  have  to  speak  again  and 
again,  is  observed — extreme  tenderness  along  the  spine,  and  partic- 
ularly over  the  loins. 

The  cough  becomes  more  frequent  and  convulsive,  and  a  brown 
or  bloody  matter  runs  from  the  nostrils  and  mouth  ;  the  eyes  are 
swelled  and  weeping ;  the  patient  grinds  his  teeth  ;  there  is  frequent 
spasmodic  contraction  about  the  nostrils  ;  and  the  animal  rarely 
lies  down,  or,  if  he  does,  rises  again  immediately. 

The  eyes  soon  afterwards  become  unusually  dull  ;  the  pulse  re^ 
mains  small,  but  it  has  become  feeble ;  the  respiration  is  quicker  ^ 


THE  MALIGNANT   EPIDEMIC— MURRAIN. 


the  flanks  are  tucked  up ;  the  tenderness  on  the  loins  is  removed ; 
insensibility  is  stealing  over  the  frame  ;  and  the  faeces  are  more 
loaded  with  mucus,  and  more  fetid.  The  patient  moans  and  lows, 
and  grinds  his  teeth  almost  incessantly ;  the  head  is  agitated  by  a 
convulsive  motion  ;  blood  begins  to  mingle  with  the  fseces  ;  the 
breath,  and  even  the  perspiration,  becomt;s  ofi^ensive  ;  and  the  beast 
staggers  as  he  walks. 

Tumors  and  boils  now,  or  often  earlier,  appear  on  various  parts. 
If  thpy  are  to  come  forward,  the  sooner  they  rise  the  better,  for 
much  depends  on  what  becomes  of  them.  If  the  animal  has  suffi- 
cient strength  for  them  to  go  through  the  usual  process  of  suppura- 
tion, although  the  sloughing  and  the  stench  may  be  greater  than 
could  be  thought  possible,  the  beast  will  have  a  chance  to  recover  ; 
but  if  there  is  not  energy  to  bring  them  forward — if  they  become 
stationary — and  most  assuredly,  if  they  recede  and  disappear,  the 
patient  will  die. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  is  most  unsatisfactory.  If  the  farmer 
could  be  brought  to  attend  more  to  this  cough  in  cattle — if,  here, 
he  had  recognized  the  violent  and  increasing  cough,  and,  although 
he  had  not  dreamed  of  murrain,  had  bled  and  physicked  the  beast 
on  account  of  the  cough,  the  disease  would  probably  have  been  ar- 
rested, or  at  least  its  virulence  would  Ivave  abated. 

The  early  stage  of  murrain  is  one  of  fever,  and  the  treatment 
should  correspond  with  this — bleeding.  Physic  should  be  cautiously 
yet  not  timorously  resorted  to.  For  sedative  medicines  there  will 
rarely  be  room,  except  the  cough  should  continue.  Small  doses  of 
purgative  medicine,  with  more  of  the  aromatic  than  we  generally 
add,  will  be  serviceable,  effecting  the  present  purpose,  and  not  has- 
tening or  increasing  the  debility  which  generally  is  at  hand  ;  but  if 
the  bowels  be  sufficiently  open,  or  diarrhoea  should  threaten,  and 
yet  symptoms  of  fever  should  be  apparent,  no  purgative  must  be  giv- 
en, but  the  sedatives  should  be  mingled  with  some  vegetable  tonic. 
The  peculiar  fetid  diarrhoea  lanust  be  met  with  astringents,  mingled 
also  with  vegetable  tonics.  In  combating  the  pustular  and  slough- 
ing gangrenous  stage,  the  chloride  of  lime  wmII  be  the  best  external 
application  ;  while  a  little  of  it  administered  with  the  other  medi- 
cines inwardly  may  possibly  lessen  the  tendency  to  general  decom- 
position. 'J'he  external  application  of  it  should  not  be  confined  to 
the  ulcerated  parts  alone,  but  it  should  be  plentifully  sprinkled  over 
and  about  the  beast ;  and  the  infected  animal  should  be  immediately 
removed  from  the  S(^und  ones. 

Drink  for  Murrain. — Take  sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  half  an  ounce ; 
laudanum,  half  an  ounce  '■  choride  of  lime,  in  powder,  two  ounces  ; 
prepared  chalk,  an  ounce.  Rub  them  well  together,  and  give  them 
with  a  pint  of  warm  gruel. 

This  may  be  repeated  every  six  hours,  urtil  the  purging  is  consi- 


254  CATTLE. 


derably  abated  ;  but  should  not  be  continued  until  it  has  quite  stopped. 
The  purging  being  abated,  we  must  look  about  for  something  to 
recall  the  appetite  and  recruit  the  strength. 

To7iic  Drink  for  Murrain. — Take  colcmbo  root,  two  drachms  ; 
canella  bark,  two  diachms  ;  ginger,  one  dr?  jhm  ;  sweet  spirit  of  nitre, 
half  an  ounce.     Rub  them  together,  and  g.ve  in  a  pint  of  thick  gruel. 

There  cannot  be  a  more  proper  means  adopted  than  a  seton  in  the 
dewlap,  made  with  the  black  hellebore  root.  The  mouth  should  be 
frequently  washed  with  a  dilute  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime.  The 
ulcerated  parts,  if  they  are  fetid,  should  have  the  same  disinfectant 
applied  to  them,  and  the  walls  and  ceiling,  and  every  part  of  the 
cow-house,  should  be  washed  with  it. 

One  caution  should  be  used  with  respect  to  the  food  ;  while  the 
beast  should  be  coaxed  to  eat,  in  order  to  support  him  under  the 
debilitating  influence  of  the  disease,  it  is  only  on  the  supposition  that 
he  ruminates  his  food.  Until  he  begins  again  to  chew  the  cud,  we 
are  only  injuriously  overloading  the  paunch  by  enticing  th«  animal  to 
eat.  Until  rumination  is  re-esliblished,  the  food  should  consist  of 
gruel,  or  any  other  nutritive  fluid,  and  should  be  so  administered  that 
the  greater  part  of  it  may  pass  on  into  the  fourth  stomach,  without 
entering  the  first.  When  the  animal  appears  to  be  recovering,  he 
should  be  gradually  exposed  to  cool  and  open  air,  and  very  slowly 
permitted  to  return  to  his  usual  food. 

When  the  disease  is  quite  subdued,  the  cleansing  of  the  cow-house 
should  be  seriously  undertaken,  and  thoroughly  accomplished,  Let 
every  portion  of  filth  and  dung  be  carefully  removed,  the  walls,  and 
the  wood-work,  and  the  floor  carefully  washed  with  water,  or  soap 
and  water,  and  then  every  part  washed  again  with  a  lotion,  in  the 
proportion  of  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  the  chloride  of  lime,  in  powder, 
to  a  bucket  of  water.  This  will  be  better  than  any  fumigation  that 
can  be  possibly  applied.  Should,  however,  the  chloride  of  lime  not 
be  at  hand,  then  a  simple  and  cheap  fumigation,  on  which  very  con- 
siderable dependence  can  be  placed,  njay  be  resorted  to. 

Fumigation. — Take  common  salt,  two  pounds  ;  oil  of  vitriol,  one 
pound. 

The  salt  should  be  put  in  an  earthen  vessel,  and  placed  in  the 
middle  of  the  cow-house,  and  the  oil  of  vitriol  gradually  poured  upon 
it.  They  should  be  stirred  well  together  with  a  stick,  and  the  person 
preparing  the  thing  should  retreat  as  quickly  as  he  can,  to  prevent 
himself  from  sufi"ering  by  the  fumes  of  the  chloride,  closing  the  door 
carefully  after  him,  every  window  and  aperture  having  been  previously 
closed.  In  a  few  hours  he  may  enter  the  cow-house  again,  and 
remove  the  vessel,  without  any  serious  inconvenience. 

[A  remed}^  much  used  for  murrain,  in  Holland  has  been  brought 
before  the  American  public,  by  J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq.,  editor  of  the 
"  Plow,  the  Loom,  and  the  Anvil."     It  is  this  : — nitrate  of  potash. 


THE  MALIGNANT  EI  IDEMIC— MURRAIN.  255 


170  grains  ;  bole  armenian,  20  grains.  Dissolve  in  a  pint  of  water* 
and  give,  to  be  repeated  as  often  as  required. — Am.  Ed.'^ 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — With  respect  to  treatment,  arsenicum  is 
a  certain  means  of  cure  and  preservation.  On  the  first  symp- 
toms of  the  disease  being  perceived,  such  as  loss  of  appetite,  suspen- 
sion of  rumination,  trembling  of  the  hind  legs,  staggering  when  walk- 
ing, hair  dull  and  rough,  eyes  swimming  in  water,  alternations  of 
heat  and  cold  in  the  horns  and  ears,  disappearance  of  milk,  (fee,  a 
dose  of  arsenicum  should  be  administered,  which  is  to  be  repeated 
every  five  to  fifteen  minutes,  until  there  is  marked  improvement ; 
in  slight  cases  one  hour  or  an  hour  and  a  half  interval  may  be  al- 
lowed between  the  doses.  The  curative  effect  becomes  perceptible 
after  a  very  little  time,  and  so  much  the  sooner,  in  proportion  as  the 
attack  was  more  violent ;  so  that  in  the  most  acute  cases  the  amend- 
ment often  becomes  perceptible  in  a  quarter  or  in  half  an  hour, 
which  is  recognized  by  the  following  characters :  the  animal  shakes 
off  the  stupor,  looks  around  it,  and  notices  the  person  taking  care  of 
it ;  the  trembling  diminishes  or  ceases  altogether,  the  horns  and  ears 
are  less  cold,  or  less  burning  ;  there  is  a  little  appetite,  the  hair  lies 
down,  the  eye  loses  its  fixedness,  and  the  animal  has  an  alvine  dis- 
charge ;  the  evacuations  vary  much,  being  sometimes  natural,  some- 
ciraes  bloody  or  mucous  ;  at  length  a  general  warm  sweat  sets  in,  or 
tumors,  abscesses,  or  eruptions  ;  in  the  case  of  cows  the  milk  returns. 
When  these  signs  of  improvement  are  observed  to  take  place,  we 
must  wait  for  some  time  before  repeating  the  dose,  being  always 
regulated  by  the  degree  of  severity  with  which  the  disease  com- 
menced ;  if  the  aggression  be  violent,  and  the  first  dose  produces  no 
perceptible  effect,  after  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  or,  at  most,  half  an 
hour,  the  a.rsenicum  must  be  repeated,  and  then  continued  at  the 
same  intervals  ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  the  disease  be  but  moderate,  it 
is  better  to  allow  the  first  dose  to  act  for  an  hour  ;  and  if  an  improve- 
ment take  place,  a  second  is  not  given  until  the  amendment  ceases  to 
progress.  Often  a  single  dose  suffices  to  remove  the  disease,  whilst 
in  other  cases,  from  two  to  four,  even  from  twenty  to  thirty,  are 
required,  before  we  obtain  a  complete  cui«.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
say  that  during  the  Avhole  course  of  treatment,  we  should  not  lose 
sight  of  the  patient  for  a  moment. 

Should  an  amendment  or  cure  be  obtained,  all  is  not  yet  over ; 
two  cases  may  still  occur, 

1.  A  relapse  of  the  disease.  This  may  take  place  after  the  lapse 
of  from  four  to  sixteen  hours.  It  is  important  then  to  watch  the 
animal  during  twenty-four  hours,  and  still  to  make  it  take  a  few 
doses,  at  intervals  of  about  four  hours.  If  the  relapse  had  ali-eady 
taken  place,  Ave  should  proceed  as  on  the  former  occasion  ;  but  the 
danger  would  be  still  greater. 


256  CATTLE. 

2.  Other  circumstances  supervene,  which,  he  we ver,  are  never  dan- 
gerous. In  different  regions  of  the  body,  cold,  soft,  or  hard  tumors, 
of  an  indolent  kind,  form.  Sometimes  there  remain  hard  indura- 
tions, or  swelhno-  of  the  glands  and  teats,  with  suppression  or  diminu- 
tion of  the  milky  secnHion.  Though  the  teat  presents  nothing  ab- 
normal, the  milk  is  less  abundant,  or  altered  in  its  qualities.  The 
skin  is  covered  with  small  scabs  succeeding  pustules  which  contained 
a  fluid  ;  the  eruption  occupied  the  entire  or  only  a  portion  of  the 
body  ;  it  is  accompanied  with  itching  or  not ;  the  hair  remains  star- 
ini^,  and  does  not  recov.er  its  brightnoss.  The  evacuations  continue 
to'be  hard  and  scanty.  There  is  emphysema  under  the  skin  ;  cre- 
pitation is  felt  on  pasfmg  the  hand  over  it.  The  skin  is  completely 
hard,  and  does  not  yield  to  the  action  of  its  proper  muscles  ;  the 
appetite  and  ruminations  are  not  reestablished. 

All  these  sequelae  yield  in  a  little  time  to  the  prolonged  use  of 
arseniciim,  a  dose  of  which  is  to  be  taken  every  six  hours,  until  no 
trace  any  longer  remains ;  which  usually  is  the  work  of  three  or  foui 
days.  The  absence  of  appetite  and  sluggishness  of  the  intestina) 
canal  quickly  yield  to  a  few  doses  of  nux  vomica.  'I'he  appetitt 
almost  always  returns  four  or  six  hours  after  the  first,  and  if  the  con 
stipation  continue,  the  medicine  is  to  be  repeated  every  six  hour? 
Spiritus  sulphuratus  is  employed  for  the  eruption,  and  arsenicuv 
for  all  the  other  ailments. 

In  order  to  preserve  the  animals  from  the  disease,  they  are  made 
to  take,  first  every  foity-eight  hours,  then  every  twenty-four,  ana 
lastly  every  twelve  hours,  one  drop  of  arsenicum  in  the  mqvning,  one 
hour  before  eating,  and  in  the  evening,  two  hours  alter  doing  so. 

THE    EPIDEMIC    OF    1840    AND    1841. 

Since  the  last  edition  of  this  work  was  published,  a  new  disease 
has  appeared  amongst  cattle  and  sheep,  and  for  the  last  ten  years  it 
has  spread  through  the  kingdom  as  an  epidemic,  scarcely  sparing  a 
single  parish  from  its  visitation.  Though  not  by  any  means  usually 
fatal  in  its  effects,  it  has  yet  altogether  destroyed  a  great  number, 
and  the  pecuniary  loss  has  been  still  greater  from  the  debilitating 
effects  which  it  has  produced  or  left  behind.  It  has  been  proved  to 
be  extremely  infe(-tious,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  greater 
number  of  cases  have  been  thus  produced  or  spontaneously  occa- 
sioned. It  has  sometimes  appeared  amongst  the  cattle  of  a  farm, 
scarcely  sparing  a  single  case  ;  and  again,  after  some  months'  absence, 
it  has  reappeared  on  the  same  farm  amongst  the  sheep,  or  perhaps 
the  swine.  In  some  cases,  and  on  some  occasions,  the  symptoms  of 
the  disease  have  been  very  slight,  and  the  cases  have  soon  got  well 
without  any  medical  treatment ;  but  in  other  cases  the  symptoms 
have  been  extremely  severe,  anc  attended  with  danger.      It  has 


THE  EPIJEMIC  OF  1S40  AND  1841. 


usually  happened  that  the  earlier  and  the  later  cases  have  been 
somewhat  slight,  and  the  middle  ones  much  more  dangerous.  In  this 
respect  it  has  resembled  other  epidemics.  The  cause  of  this  disease 
is  contagion  ;  and  in  cases  of  spontaneous  appearance,  it  is  brouoht  on 
to  the  farm  by  hares  and  rabbits. 

The  disease  is  decidedly  constitutional,  though  manifesting  itself 
locally  in  a  peculiar  manner ;  its  nature  is  that  of  a  low  fever,  great 
debility  quickly  supervening,  and  sometimes  exhibiting  a  tendency  to 
putridity.  If  the  very  earliest  symptoms  be  observed,  it  will  gene- 
rally be  found  that  cold  extremities,  a  staring  coat,  and  indeed  a  cold 
fit  are  exhibited  ;  but  a  reaction  soon  follows,  in  which  the  limbs 
become  hot,  and  then  saliva  issues  from  the  mouth,  and  the  tono-ue 
is  somewhat  swollen.  At  the  same  time  some  degree  of  tenderness 
in  the  feet  is  manifested,  and  the  pulse  is  quickened  and  the  beast  is 
altogether  feverish.  The  soreness  of  the  mouth  and  feet  increases ; 
small  bladders  are  found  on  the  tongue,  the  lips  and  other  parts  of 
the  mouth,  and  likewise  between  the  hoofs,  and  sometimes  also  on 
the  teats.  The  animal  gradually  ceases  to  feed,  from  the  pain  expe- 
rienced in  the  act,  and  sometimes  the  appetite  itself  fails.  The  blad- 
ders become  opaque,  and  at  length  burst  and  discharge  a  watery 
fluid  ;  and  this  increases  the  soreness  of  the  parts.  The  flow  of 
saliva  increases,  and  in  a  few  days  the  cuticle  t-loughs  off.  Some- 
times there  are  swellings  along  the  back  and  loins,  which  appear  to 
contain  air.  The  disease  thus  continues,  becoming  gradually  more 
severe  until  four  or  five  days  from  the  commencement,  when  amend- 
ment generally  takes  place,  and  the  beast  gradually  recovers.  Some- 
times, however,  the  complaint  becomes  complicated  with  inflammation 
of  some  organ — such  as  the  lungs,  and  the  danger  is  then  much 
greater ;  or  it  may  take  on  a  low  typhoid  form,  under  which  the 
animal  may  sink.  In  milch  cows  the  udder  is  often  affected,  occa- 
sionally much  inflamed,  and  attended  with  danger. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  must  be  moderate  in  its  character,  and 
should  consist  in  checking  the  fever,  relaxing  the  bowels,  healino-  the 
sores  on  the  mouth  and  feet,  and  afterwards  assisting  the  strength 
with  tonics. 

Bleeding  should  in  general  be  abstained  from,  unless  there  be  some 
severe  local  inflammation  present,  calculated  to  increase  the  debility  ; 
but  the  following  laxative  should  be  administered  without  loss  of 
time : — 

Take  Epsom  salts,  half  a  pound  ;  sulphur,  two  or  four  ounces  ; 
nitre,  half  an'  ounce ;  ginger,  two  drachms  ;  spirit  of  nitrous  etlier, 
one  ounce.  Dissolved  in  wann  water  or  gruel,  and  repeated  once  a 
day  for  several  days. 

The  following  liniment  may  be  applied  to  the  mouth  several  times 
a  day : — 


CATTLE. 


Take  alum  and  white  vitriol,  of  each  half  an  ounce  ;  molasses,  a  quar- 
ter of  a  pint.     Dissolve  iri  a  pint  of  warm  water. 

The  feet  sliould  be  carefully  pared,  and  if  much  inflamed,  a  poultice 
may  be  applied  ;  but  if  not  so,  and  there  is  a  sore,  equal  parts  of 
tincture  of  myrrh  and  butyr  of  antimony.  One  application  of  this 
caustic  is  generally  sufficient,  and  the  sore  should  afterwards  be 
dressed  once  a  day  with  the  following  : — 

Astringent  Powder. — Take  blue  vitriol,  powdered,  half  an  ounce  ; 
powdered  alum,  half  an  ounce ;  prepared  chalk,  two  ounces ;  arme- 
nian  bole,  one  ounce. 

Linseed  and  oatmeal  gruel  should  be  offered  to  drink,  and  mashes, 
with  the  best  food  tliat  can  be  procured.  If  the  weather  be  fine,  it 
will  be  better  to  continue  the  cattle  at  grass  ;  but  if  housed,  they 
should  be  kept  clean  and  dry.  When  the  bowels  are  relaxed,  and 
there  appears  much  weakness,  the  following  tonic  should  be  given 
daily : — 

Take  powdered  ginger,  one  drachm  ;  powdered  caraway  seeds, 
one  drachm  ;  gentian,  powdered,  four  drachms  ;  spirit  of  nitrous 
ether,  one  ounce.     To  be  mixed  slowly  with  gruel. 

If  there  should  be  any  appearance  of  colic  or  spasm  of  the  bowels, 
an  ounce  of  laudanum  may  be  given  with  the  other  medicine  ;  and  if 
the  liver  be  affected,  a  drachm  of  calomel  may  be  added,  and  a  blis- 
tering apphcation  rubbed  on  the  right  side. 

Should  the  lungs  be  inflamed,  it  will  be  proper  to  bleed  and  blister 
the  sides,  or  insert  setons  in  the  brisket.  If  the  udder  be  affected,  it 
should  be  well  and  frequently  fomented  with  hot  water,  and  the  milk 
should  be  drawn  with  great  care. 

PHARYNGITES — SORE    THROAT. 

Inflammation  of  the  respiratory  passages  is  often  confined  to  particu- 
lar and  to  very  small  portions  of  them.  The  posterior  part  of  the 
mouth,  the  pharynx,  through  the  funnel-shaped  cavity  of  which  the 
food  passes  in  order  to  arrive  at  the  gullet,  is  peculiarly  subject  to 
inflammation  :  it  is  recognized  under  the  term  sore  throat,  and  is 
usually  accompanied  with  cough,  and  other  symptoms  of  catarrh. 

The  characteristic  symptoms  are  disinclination  to  food,  suspension 
of  rumination,  and  difficulty  in  swallowing.  Solid  food  is  either 
dropped  from  tlie  mouth  when  partly  masticated,  or  it  is  forced  down 
by  a  painful  effort ;  liquids  are  generally  obstinately  refused,  or  are 
swallowed  by  a  convulsive  kind  of  gulp.  There  is  tenderness  extend- 
ing from  ear  to  ear,  and  usually  some  degree  of  enlargement  in 
proportion  to  the  inflammation  of  the  neighboring  parts,  and  especially 
the  parotid  glands  are  involved.  Occasionally  the  irritation  of  the 
pharynx  produces  constriction  of  its  muscles,  and  a  portion  of  the 
food,  both  solid  an«i  fluid,  is  returned   through  the  nostrils.     The 


EPIDEMIC  AFFECTION  OF  THE  UPPER  AIR-PASSAGES.       259 

cough  of  sore  throat  is  a  painful  one,  and  is  confined  to  the  throat. 
It  is  often  a  decidedly  local  affection  ;  there  is  not  much  tendency  to 
take  on  inflammation  in  the  neighboring  parts  ;  the  treatment  will  be 
bleeding  and  physic,  to  abate  the  general  fever,  and  stimulating 
embrocations,  or  even  blisters,  to  subdue  the  local  inflammation. 

The  great  development  of  the  ethmoid  and  turbinated  bones  in 
the  nose  of  the  ox,  in  order  to  increase  the  acuteness  of  smell  in  that 
ammal,  has  already  been  described  (p.  181).  The  consequence  of  this 
is,  that  there  is  but  a  small  passage  left  for  the  air,  and  when  the 
membrane  of  tlie  nose  occasionally  sympathizes  with  that  of  the 
pharynx,  and  becomes  inflamed  and  thickened,  there  ensues  a  diffi- 
culty of  breathing,  from  sore  throat.  It  is  true  that  the  ox  breathes 
partly  through  the  mouth,  but  the  pharynx  itself  is  constricted  and 
thickened,  and  the  breathing  becomes  laborious  almost  to  sufi"ocation  : 
therefore  sore  throat  should  be  considered  in  a  rather  serious  lio-ht, 
and  be  treated  with  corresponding  promptitude. 

LARYNGITES INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LARYNX. 

This  is  a  dreadful  disease,  and,  fortunately,  of  rare  occurrence  It 
is  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  larynx,  and  is  attended 
by  a  quickened,  loud  and  laborious  breathing,  that  would  scarcely  be 
thought  credible.  In  some  exceedingly  acute  cases  the  number  of 
respirations  equals,  or  even  exceeds,  that  of  the  pulse.  The  least 
pressure  on  the  neck  over  the  larynx  seems  to  give  intense  pain. 
The  treatment  is  bleeding,  physic,  bhsters,  and,  when  suftbcation 
actually  threatens,  tracheotomy. 

EPIDEMIC  AFFECTION  OF  THE  UPPER  AIR-PASSAGES. 

In  low  and  marshy  districts,  and  a  wet,  cold,  ungenial  sprino-  or 
autumn,  there  is  occasionally  an  epidemic  inflammation  of  the 
pharynx,  larynx,  and  windpipe,  which  dfS"ers  in  some  respects  from 
any  of  the  diseases  yet  described,  and  is  very  fatal.  The  malady 
commences  like  most  febrile  ones,  with  loss  of  appetite  and  suspen- 
sion of  rumination ;  to  these  speedily  succeed  dullness,  some  prostra- 
tion of  strength,  and  a  slight  difficulty  of  breathing.  On  the  follow- 
ing day,  or  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  the  throat  becomes  tender, 
and  it  is  evidently  a  little  gorged  between  the  channel,  and  extending 
some  way  down  the  neck.  The  animal  finds  difficulty  and  pain  in 
moving  his  head  or  his  neck,  and  in  swallowing  the  medicines  or 
drinks  which  are  given  to  him.  The  engorgement  slowly  proceeds, 
or  seems  to  be  stationary  for  a  w^iile  ;  the  fever  acquii'es  no  high 
degree  of  intensity,  but  the  languor  and  prostration  of  streno-th  in- 
crease ;  sometimes  there  is  discharge  from  the  mouth  or  nose,  of  a 
purulent  character,  yellowish-wl^te  in  color,  fetid,  tinged  with  blood, 
and  seeming  to  contain  particles   of  some  mucous  membrane  which 


860  CATTLE. 


has  been  corroded,  and  is  coming  away  piecemeal.  The  disease  fre- 
quently terminates  in  suffocation,  about  the  fourth  or  fifth  day. 

On  examination  after  death,  the  pharynx  is  generally  filled  with 
this  purulent  matter,  and  the  membjane  beneath  is  in  a  state  of  ul- 
ceration, or  gangrene.  The  inflammatory  appearance,  and  the  gan- 
grenous one  too,  extend  to  a  greater  or  less  distance  down  the  gullet ; 
they  usually  occupy  the  whole  of  the  larynx,  and  often  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  the  windpipe,  and  occasionally  may  be  traced  into  the 
bronchial  tubes.  It  is  evidently  a  local  affection  ;  it  is  acute  inflam- 
mation of  the  pharynx  or  the  larynx  ;  oftenest  of  the  former,  and 
sometimes  of  both.  The  contents  of  the  thorax  and  the  abdomen 
are  usually  free  from  disease. 

Bleeding  has  been  found  of  little  sei  ^ice  in  this  complaint ;  and  it 
is  necessary  either  to  h;isten  the  suppuration  while  the  surrounding 
membrane  and  other  parts  retain  some  vital  power,  or  to  evacuate 
the  fluid  as  quickly  as  possible.  For  the  first  purpose,  blisters  of 
various  kinds,  and  even  the  heated  iron,  have  been  applied  to  the 
throat ;  for  the  second,  the  tumor  has  been  lanced,  however  deeply 
it  may  be  seated.  It  requires,  however,  an  experienced  veterinary 
surgeon  to  conduct  any  operation  here,  for  the  part  is  crowded  with 
important  blood-vessels,  the  wounding  of  one  of  which  may  be 
fatal. 

When  there  is  no  great  external  enlargement,  and  yet  much  difl5- 
culty  of  breathing,  and  suffocation  is  thieatened,  there  is  reason  to 
apprehend  that  the  pharynx,  or  some  factitious  pouch  which  nature 
has  suddenly  formed  for  the  fluid,  or  the  guttural  pouches,  (yet  very 
rarely,  for  they  are  small  in  the  ox,)  or  the  commencement  of  the 
communication  between  the  mouth  and  the  ear,  are  filled  with  pus. 
None  but  a  skillful  veterinary  surgeon  should  attempt  an  opening  in 
such  a  case.     The  following  hints  may  be  some  guide, 

PUNCTURING    THE    PHARYNX. 

The  beast  must  be  cast,  and  properly  secured.  This  must  be 
effected  with  as  little  violence  as  possible,  for  in  the  struggles  of  the 
animal,  and  the  sudden  quickening  of  the  breathing,  suffocation  may 
ensue  in  a  moment.  If  there  be  a  little  greater  enlargement  on  one 
side  than  on  the  other,  the  animal  should  be  cast  with  that  side  up- 
ward. The  operator  should  now  have  the  head  of  the  patient  mode- 
rately extended,  and  then  he  will  ascertain  the  situation  of  the  middle 
of  the  anterior  edge  of  the  atlas,  or  first  bone  of  the  neck  (?/.,  p.  143). 
Close  upon  this,  or  coniTected  with  it,  he  will  find  the  posterior  edge 
of  the  parotid  ghmd.  He  should  elevate  the  skin,  and,  tak  ng  the 
edge  of  the  atlas  as  a  guide,  and  following  its  direction,  he  should 
make  his  incision  about  two,  or  not  exceeding  thiee  inches  in  length, 
but  no  deeper  than  the  skin  and  the  cellular  substance,  and  the 
centre  of   his  incision  should  answer  to  the  centre  of  the  rounded 


PUNCTURING  THE  PPIARYNX.  261 

edge  of  the  atlas.  A  thin  layer,  partly  muscular  and  partly  nbrous, 
will  now  present  itself.  It  belongs  to  the  subcutaneous  muscle  oi 
the  neck,  and  it  lies  upon  the  parotid  gland.  He  should  dissect 
through  it  carefully,  and  if  his  first  incision  has  been  a  correct  one^ 
he  will  come  upon  the  posterior  edge  of  the  parotid  gland.  This  he 
must  separate  cautiously  from  the  atlas,  and  from  the  cellular  tissue 
by  which  it  is  tied  down,  and  elevate,  or  turn  it  aside,  as  far  as  the 
middle  of  the  space  which  separates  the  atlas  from  the  mastoid 
process. 

The  forefinger  must  now  be  introduced  into  the  opening.  There 
is  first  felt  a  layer  of  soft  parts,  and  then  the  superior  lateral  branch 
of  the  hyoid  bone,  from  the  extremity  of  which  a  flat  muscle— the 
stylo-hyoideus  (fig.  13,  p.  203) — goes  to  the  styloid  process  of  the 
occipital  bone.  Immediately  under  this  muscle  lies  that  portion  of 
the  pharynx  which  is  connected  with  the  guttural  tube  of  the  ear  ; 
and  now,  the  back  of  the  instrument  being  turned  towards,  or  touch- 
ing the  parotid  gland,  and  the  edge  of  it  towards  the  ear,  and  the 
head  being  somewhat  more  extended  in  order  to  change  a  little  the 
situation  of  the  carotids  and  nerves,  the  bistoury  is  plunged  through 
the  muscle  into  the  pharynx  beneath. 

Sometimes  the  whole  of  the  fluid  cannot  be  evacuated  through 
this  first  incision,  and  a  new  one  must  be  sought  in  a  more  downward 
direction.  A  curved  sounding  instrument  must  be  introduced  into 
the  first  orifice,  and  the  end  of  it  made  to  press  against  dififerent  parts 
of  the  cavity,  until  it  can  be  plainly  felt  externally  between  the  bifur- 
cation of  the  jugular  :  every  important  vessel  and  nerve  will  be  in 
this  way  pushed  aside,  and  the  point  of  the  sound  may  be  cut  down 
upon  without  danger. 

Pharyngitis,  laryngitis,  inflammation  of  the  windpipe,  in  short,  all 
inflammation  of  the  air- passages,  are  termed  anfjina,  homoeopathically  ; 
and  the  treatment  of  one  of  these  diseases  will  be  a  formula  for  all 
of  them,  and  each  of  them  should  be  treated  as  here  indicated. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  first  remedy  in  this  oftentimes  rather 
dangerous  disease,  is  aconitum,  which  generally  suffices  when  we  have 
recourse  to  it  in  time;  we  are  to  administer  from  two  to  four  doses 
within  the  space  of  from  three  to  four  hours.  If  the  respiratory  organs 
are  more  especially  affected,  so  that  the  respiration  is  difficult,  loud, 
whistling,  or  if  there  be  a  swelling,  painful  externally,  some  doses  of 
spongia  marina  are  to  be  given.  Hepar  suljjkicns  has  been  found 
very  effectual  in  the  second  case,  and  likewise  hryonia.  When  the 
angina  affects  more  particulaily  the  organs  of  deglutition,  so  that 
liquids  cannot  be  swallowed,  and  return  always  by  the  nostrils,  the 
look  of  the  animal  being  fixed  and  wild,  helladonva  acts  as  a  specific. 
Capsicum  is  suitable  in  inflammation  of  the  mucous  membranes  of 
the  throat,  with  kinks  of  coughing,  and  without  any  appreciable 
fever.     Antimonium  crudum  may  also  be  then  tried  with  success 


CATTLE. 


When  an  external  lesion,  as  a  blow,  &c.,  has  occasioned  extenial 
swelling  and  inflammation  of  the  neck,  in  consequence  of  which  an 
angina  has  supervened,  we  are  to  give  some  doses  of  aconitum,  then 
arnica,  which  are  sufficient  in  many  instances,  unless  the  inflamma- 
tion has  made  too  much  progress.  If,  after  the  inflammatory  symp- 
toms have  been  removed,  there  remain  a  swelling  in  the  neck,  we 
should  have  recourse  to  baryta  carhonica,  and  when  that  is  not  suffi- 
cient, to  hepar  sulphuris. 

BRONCHITIS. 

When  catarrh  begins  to  spread,  and  to  involve  the  lower  and  more 
important  air-passages,  it  attacks  the  bronchial  tubes  oftener  than 
any  other  portion  of  the  respiratory  apparatus,  and  is  inflammation 
of  the  lower  and  minuter  air-passages.  It  used  to  be  called  inflam- 
mation of  the  hint^s  in  cattle,  and  is  so  considered  by  the  majoi-ity  of 
farmers  and  cow-leeches ;  but  since  the  improvement  of  veterinary 
science,  this  distinction,  one  of  some  moment,  has  been  established. 
Bronchitis,  however,  is  seldom  pure ;  it  is  the  prevailing  disease,  but 
it  is  complicated  with  slighter  inflammation  of  the  neighboring  sub- 
stance of  the  lungs.  Bronchitis  is  rarely  sudden  in  its  attack.  It  is  pre- 
ceded, and  generally  for  a  long  time,  by  cough,  which  becomes  more 
and  more  frequent  and  painful,  and  husky  and  wheezing. 

Here,  then,  is  another  motive  for  attention  to  the  hoose  of  cattle. 
Simple  catarrh  may  do  little  harm  ;  but  the  inflammatory  affection 
will  gradually  involve  other  and  more  important  membranes,  inflam- 
mation of  which  is  generally  fatal.  Bronchitis  is  the  intermediate 
step  between  catarrh  and  consumption,  and  it  unfortunately  is  tha< 
step  which,  if  once  taken,  the  other  must  follow.  We  may,  th^re 
fore,  except  when  the  disease  assumes  an  epidemic  character,  (whicl 
it  not  unfrequently  dors,  and  particularly  in  young  cattle,)  attribute 
it  to  the  neglect  or  mismanagement  of  the  herdsman  or  the  owner. 

The  existence  of  bronchitis  may  usually  be  detected  by  a  gradua' 
change  of  the  countenance ;  a  sunken,  anxious,  haggard  look ;  i 
rapid  and  laborious  breathing,  attributable,  at  first  glance,  to  some 
thing  more  than  mere  catarrh,  however  severe  that  may  occasionalh 
be ;  a  cough,  painful  to  a  very  great  degree,  and  against  the  fuL 
action  of  which  the  animal  strives  as  much  as  he  is  able,  so  that  it  ii 
not  full  and  perfect,  but  hn^kr/  and  wheezing.  There  is  a  very  con- 
siderable disinclination  to  mo\e,  which  is  easily  accounted  for  ;  foi 
inflammation  of  the  bronchial  membrane  is  accompanied  by  thicken- 
ing of  it,  and  by  the  secretion  of  a  quantity  of  viscid  mucus,  so  tha\ 
the  passages  are,  to  a  considerable  degree,  obstructed.  This  gives  a 
consciousness  of  the  danger  of  suffocation,  and  occasionally  the 
disease  tenninates  in  suffocation.  The  slightest  motion  aggravates 
the  cough  ;  and  motion  of  a  sudden  kind  sadly  oppresses  and  terri- 
fies the  animal.     The  breath  is  hot.     The  seat  of  inflammation  being 


BRONCHITIS. 


deep,  no  pain  is  indicated  when  the  side  of  the  animal  is  pressed 
upon,  or  lightlj  struck,  and  the  animal  does  not  gaze  anxiously  p.t  its 
sides.  The  most  important  of  all,  and  marking  the  fatal  progress  of 
the  disease,  the  animal  loses  flesh  rapidly,  to  a  very  great  extent,  and 
becomes  a  mere  skeleton. 

To  young  cattle  bronchitis  is  particularly  destructive,  and  the 
symptoms  and  accompanying  circumstances  are  very  singular.  A 
yearling  is  often  observed  to  have  a  cough  peculiarly  distressing.  If 
bled,  and  setoned,  and  physicked,  the  symptoms  will  sometimes 
rapidly  abate  ;  but  in  most  cases  remedial  measures  are  applied  in 
vain.  The  cough  continues  as  distressing  as  ever.  The  intermissions 
are  short,  and  the  paroxysms  exceedingly  violent.  The  beast  is  off 
his  feed,  hide-bound,  his  belly  tucked  up,  his  coat  staring,  his  flank 
heaving,  and  it  is. painful  to  hear  him  cough.  This  occurs  principally 
on  low,  marshy  woody  lands. 

The  animal  at  length  dies,  and  the  whole  of  the  brorchial  passages 
are  found  to  be  completely  choked  up  with  worms.  They  are  of  the 
strongylus  species,  and  mostly  the  Jilaria.  Many  of  them  are  also 
found  in  the  windpipe  ;  and  the  mucous  membrane  both  of  the 
windpipe  and  the  bronchial  passage  presents  an  appearance  of  the 
intensest  inflammation. 

Worms  are  oftenest  found  in  an  injurious  quantity  in  a  moist  state 
of  the  atmosphere,  or  in  moist  situations,  and  especially  in  those 
which  abundantly  produce  the  vegetables  and  grasses  peculiar  to 
such  a  locality ;  and  also  in  young  subjects,  and  in  those  whose  con- 
stitution is  somewhat  enfeebled. 

Bronchitis,  when  not  attended  with  all  the  violent  symptoms  that 
characterize  the  existence  of  worms  in  young  cattle,  should  be  treat- 
ed like  other  inflammatory  complaints."  Bleeding  will,  as  usual,  be 
the  first  remedy,  and  it  should  be  carried  to  the  extent  which  the 
pulse  will  allow  ;  in  general,  however,  the  ox  will  not,  in  this  com- 
plaint, bear  the  loss  of  so  much  blood  as  in  other  chest  aftections. 
To  this  should  follow  physic,  and  the  sedative  medicines  already 
recommended,  with  mashes,  <fec. 

In  some  cases  a  favorable  termination  of  the  disease  has  been  pro- 
duced ;  but  in  the  bronchitis  with  worms  there  are  exceedingly  few 
cases  of  successful  treatment.  jSTo  drug  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon 
these  worms  directly  ;  for  no  fluid  at  all  can  pass  into  these  tubes. 
Diluted  chlorine  gas  might  be  inhaled.  It  might  be  breathed  more 
readily,  if  an  artificial  opening  were  made  into  the  larynx.  Other 
symptoms  of  bronchitis,  and  particulai-ly  the  feeling  of  suff'ocation, 
might  also  be  reheved  or  removed  by  this. 

The  animal  would,  probably,  be  much  annoyed  by  such  inhala- 
tion ;  he  might  cough  for  a  while  with  even  greater  violence  ;  but 
the  woi-ms  dying,  or  their  hold  being  loosened,  they  might  be  ex- 
pelled through  the  natui-al  or  artificial  opening  by  the  very  urgency 


264  CATTLE. 


of  the  cough.  That  veterinary  surgeon  or  agriculturist  would  de- 
serve well  who  puts  this  fairly  to  the  test. 

Tliere  is  another  mode  of  going  to  work,  and  one  that  promises 
occasional  success.  There  are  certain  drugs  that  are  taken  up  by  the 
lacteals,  or  by  some  of  the  absorbent  vessels,  and  carried  into  the 
circulation,  and  produce  their  effect  by  immediate  contact  with  the 
part  on  which  they  operate.  Thus  mercury  acts  in  various  local 
diseases  ;  iodine  lessens  the  growth  of  many  tumors ;  and  turpen- 
tine is  a  diuretic.  Turpentine  is  pecuHarly  destructive  to  worms. 
It  enters  into  every  part  of  the  circulation  :  is  recognizable  in  the 
urine  and  in  the  breath.  The  turpentine  faihng,  it  might  be  worth 
while  to  try  the  eflfect  of  squills,  or  the  gum  benzoin,  or  the  balsams 
of  Peru  and  Tolu.      (See  page  249.) 

Homoeopathic  treatment.— :'l\\e.  medicines  to  be  employed  will,  in 
a  great  measure,  be  regulated  by  the  different  stages  of  the  disease  ; 
amongst  the  most  useful,  we  shall  find  hryoniii  alba,  aconite,  bella- 
donna, phosphorus,  mercurius,  cannabis,  spongia,  &c.  If  the  inflam- 
mation is  high,  we  should  commence  the  treatment  by  giving  aconite, 
particularly  when  the  pulse  is  high,  and  the  skin  hot  and  dry.  Bel- 
ladonna, when  there  is  rattHng  of  mucus,  distressing  cough,  and  op- 
pression of  the  chest.  Bryonia,  with  dryness  of  the  mouth  and  diffi- 
cult respiration  ;  this  remedy  is  more  called  for  when  it  is  apt  to 
degenerate  into  pleurisy.  Phosphorus  is  particularly  indicated  when 
there  is  reason  to  apprehend  extension  of  the  disease  to  the  substance 
of  the  lungs.  Mercurius,  when  the  symptoms  resemble  catarrh, 
with  swelling  of  the  glands  and  an  increase  of  saliva.  Spongia, 
when  the  affection  threatens  to  become  chronic.  When  the  breathing 
is  very  difficult,  tartarus  emeticus  may  be  given  ;  and  if  the  secretion 
is  abundant,  sepia  will  be  found  useful  ;  also  arsenicum  is  a  valua- 
ble remedy  when  the  disease  assumes  an  epidemic  form.  It  is  also 
useful  to  administer  a  few  doses  of  sulphur  when  the  animal  is  to 
all  appearance  recovered.  If  the  affection  has  been  allowed  to  be- 
come chronic,  the  remedies  most  useful  will  be  found  to  be  spongia, 
sulphur,  calcarea,  carhonica,  phosphorus,  causticum,  silicea,  arsenicum, 
conium,  stannum,  (fee. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS. 

The  beautiful  appearance  of  the  lights,  or  lungs,  in  cattle,  will 
sufficiently  prove  that  these  animals  are,  comparatively,  seldom  sub- 
ject to  pure  inflammation  of  the  lungs.  It  has  been  acknowledged, 
however,  that,  to  a  certain  extent,  it  accompanies  bronchitis  ;  for, 
when  the  membrane  of  the  air-passages  is  inflamed,  it  is  to  be  ex- 
pected that  the  air-cells  in  which  these  passages  terminate  will  not 
quite  escape. 

The  substance  of  the  lungs  is  made  up  of  thousands  of  these  little 


INFLAMMATION  OF  'iHE  LUNGS. 


cells  or  pouches,  into  which  the  air  is  conducted;  and  over  the 
delicate  membranes  constituting  the  divisions  of  which  myriads  of 
minute  vessels  are  ramifying,  and  where  the  blood  undergoes  its 
important  change.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  this  membrane,  so 
dehcate,  and  so  loaded  with  blood-vessels,  must  be  subject  to  in- 
flammation of  an  exceedingly  dangerous  character. 

Still,  however,  these  air-cells  are  not  so  often  the  seat  of  inflam 
mation  in  cattle  as  might  on  first  consideration  be  imagined.  There 
are  exciting  causes  enough  of  inflammation  in  the  air-passages  from 
exposure  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  and  from  the  general 
bad  management  to  which  cattle  are  subject ;  and  this  may  run  on 
to  the  formation  of  tubercles  and  ulcers,  and  death. 

Until  latelv,  all  chest  affections  were  confounded  under  the  term 
pneumonia,  or  inflammation  of  the  lungs.  Pneumonia  occasionally 
attacks  all  cattle,  but  more  particularly  working  beasts,  and  those 
that  have  been  driven  long,  or  hurried  on  their  journey.  The  dis- 
ease usually  appears  at  the  distance  of  some  hours,  or  a  day  or  two, 
from  the  exciting  cause  of  it,  and  can  generally  be  clearly  traced  to 
that  cause.  The  beast  is  dull — the  head  is  extended  or  drooping — 
grazing  and  rumination  have  ceased.  The  flanks  heave,  but  not  so 
laboriously  as  in  bronchitis.  There  is  cough  frequent — sore,  but  not 
so  frequent,  so  urgent,  nor  so  painful  as  that  of  bronchitis.  The 
mouth  is  hot,  but  the  horns  and  ears  and  feet  are  deathy  cold.  The 
animal  will  not  lie  down — will  scarcely  move,  but  more  from  inabil- 
ity to  move  because  he  wants  the  use  of  the  muscles  for  other  pur- 
poses, than  from  fear  of  suff'ocation — and  he  plainly  points  out  the 
seat  of  disease  by  looking  at  one  or  both  flanks.  Pneumonia,  then, 
would  be  easily  distinguished  from  the  disease  which  has  been  just 
treated  of,  and  from  pleurisy,  which  will  next  come  under  considera- 
tion, if  the  symptoms  of  the  maladies  of  cattle  were  but  a  little  more 
attended  to  than  they  generally  are. 

The  treatment  will  vary  in  some  minute  particulars.  Bleeding 
will  be  indicated,  and  as  earlv  as  possible,  and  the  blood  should  flow 
until  the  pulse  is  aftected.  A  much  greater  quantity  will  be  ab- 
stracted in  this  disease  than  in  bronchitis,  because  the  animal  will 
bear  up,  or  struggle  with  the  loss  of  blood.  In  a  membrane  so  vas- 
cular as  that  which  lines  the  air-cells,  the  inflammation  will  often 
be  so  intense  that  it  will  not  yield  to  one  bleeding,  and  the  progress 
of  the  disease  must  therefore  be  watched  with  this  view. 

Copious  bleeding  is  the  remedy  most  to  be  depended  on  for  sub- 
duing the  inflammation,  and  should  be  had  recourse  to  as  soon  as  the 
disease  is  discovered.  The  beast  should  be  put  into  a  cool  cow-house, 
well  littered,  and  immediately  bled.  If  the  difficulty  of  breathing 
and  other  symptoms  are  not  much  relieved  in  six  or  eight  hours 
after  the  first  bleeding,  it  should  be  repeated.  A  third  or  fourth 
bleeding  may  in  bad  cases  be  requisite.  In  this  disease,  more  than 
12 


ca-Tple 


in  any  other,  the  person  who  attends  the  -cattle  should  be  present 
when  the  beast  is  bled.  It  is  impossible,  by  looking  at  the  patient, 
and  considering  the  symptoms,  to  say  what  quantity  of  blood  ought 
to  be  taken  away  ;  but,  as  a  general  rule,  and  especially  in  inflamma- 
tion of  the  lungs,  and  at  the  first  bleeding,  the  blood  should  flow  un- 
til the  pulse  begins  to  falter,  and -the  animal  seems  inclined  to  faint. 
The  faltering  of  the  pulse  will  regulate  the  quantity  of  the  after- 
bleedings.  Little  bleedings  of  two  or  three  quarts,  atthe  commence- 
ment of  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  ann  never  be  of  service  ;  from  six 
to  eight  quarts  must  be  taken,  or  'even  more,  regulated  by  the  cir- 
cumstances that  have  been  mentioned,  and  the  blood  should  flow  in  a 
large  full  stream. 

Physic  will  be  plainly  indicated,  and  it  may  be  given  to  cattle  in 
pneumonia,  generally  with  advantage,  and  always  without  apprehen- 
sion. It  should,  however,  be  of  an*  -unirritating  kind.  The  purga- 
tive effect  should  be  first  produced  by  the  Epsom  salts,  and  kept 
up  by  sulphur.  In  an  acute  inflammation,  like  that  of  the  lungs,  it 
is  necessary  that  the  physic  should  act  speedily,  and  yet  it  may  ac- 
cumulate in  the  rumen.  The  practitioner  hardly  dare  to  unite  with 
it  aromatic  or  stimulating  matter  in  order  to  rouse  this  comparatively 
insensible  viscus  to  action,  but  he  must  have  speedy  recourse  to  the 
stomach-pump,  in  the  way  already  pointed  out. 

Blisters  Avill  here  be  especially  indicated.  The  inflammation  is  no 
longer  that  of  the  air-passages  deep  in  the'  substance  of  the  lungs, 
but  of  their  terminations,  upon  the  surface  of  the  lungs,  as  well  as 
everywhere  else.  It  is  difficult  to  cause  a  blister  to  rise  on  the  thick 
«kin  of  the  ox ;  yet  the  common  blister-ointment,  thoroughly  rubbed 
in,  wall  occasionally  have  effect.  The"  turpentine  tincture  of  cantha- 
rides,  repeatedly  applied,  will  cause  considerable  swelling ;  or,  both 
of  these  failing,  theie  ]-emain,  in  bad  cases,  boiling  water  and  the  hot 
iron  at  command.  Setons  in  the  dewlap-  should  never  be  omit 
ted,  and  sliould  be  inserted  immediately  after  the  first  bleeding, 
and  the  purging  drink  given.  Four  drachms  of  nitre,  two  of  ex- 
tract of  belladonna,  and  ,one  of  tartarized  antimony,  may  afterwards 
be  administered  twice  a  da}^  in  a  drink. 

Attention  to  diet  is  requisite,  and  warm  water  and  mashes  must  be 
regularly  given  two  or  three  times  a  day, 

Jlomceopa/hic  treatment. — Some  doses  of  aconitinn  at  short  inter- 
vals, (every  hour  or  every  two  hours.)  generally  remov-e  the  violent 
fever,  after  which  some  doses  of  hryonia  (one  morning  and  night,) 
establish  a  perfect  cure  on  the  second  or  third  day.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say  that  the  beast  must  be  carefully  watched  for  some 
time,  and  that  it  must  be  protected  fmm  damp  and  cold.  Neglected 
cases  of  pneumonia  have  been  cured  by  means  of  china  and  rdtrum, 
after  tubercles  had  probably  been  formed  in  the  lungs.  If  the  appe- 
tite is  not  soon  restored,  nux  vomica  and  arsenicum  should  be  given. 


ACUTE  AND  EPIDEMIC  FNEUIIONIA. 


The  following  medicines  will  also  be  found  very  useful,  tartarus 
emeticus,  sangidnarius  canadensis  phosjyJiorus,  cannabis,  cinchona, 
rhus  toxicodendron,  &c. 

ACUTE    AND  EPIDEMIC    PNEUMONIA. 

An  acute  species  of  pneumonia  in  cattle  is  sometimes  met  with, 
and  it  occasionally  appears  as  an  epidemic.  The  beast  hangs  his 
head — there  is  dryness  of  the  muzzle — the  mouth  and  breath  are 
hot — the  flanks  more  or  less  agitated — there  is  a  hard,  dry,  and  fre- 
quent cough — the  appetite  is  gone,  but  the  thirst  is  excessive — the 
excrement  is  solid  and  black,  or  liquid,  black,  and  fetid — the  coat 
rough — the  horns  and  ears  hot,  or  alternately  hot  and  cold — there 
is  languor  and  apparent  weakness,  and  sometimes  direct  lameness, 
and  most  frequently  of  one  of  the  hind  legs. 

To  these  rapidly  succeed  other  symptoms — that  tenderness  along 
the  spine  and  the  whole  of  the  lumbar  region  which  has  been  again 
and  again  described  as  so  characteristic  of  almost  every  inflammato- 
ry disease  of  cattle  ;  the  head  is  now  stretched  out — the  eyes  are 
unnaturally  bright,  yet  weeping — there  is  grinding  of  the  teeth — 
the  mouth  and  breath  become  hotter — a  mucous,  or  sometimes  pur- 
ulent discharge  runs  from  the  mouth  and  nostrils,  at  first  clear,  but 
soon  becoming  brown,  red,  or  bloody — the  flanks  heave  more  vio- 
lently— the  cough  is  more  urgent — it  has  become  convulsive — the 
nostrils  dilate  and  contract  Avith  spasmodic  violence — the  animal  no 
longer  lies  down,  or  if  he  does,  rises  again  immediately — sweats 
break  out  on  diflferent  parts  of  the  body — the  temperature  of  differ- 
ent parts  varies,  and  very  curiously  changes — the  secretion  of  milk  is 
suspended,  but  the  teats  become  hard  and  swelled — tumors  appear 
on  various  parts — a  shivering,  partial  or  total,  succeeds,  and  the 
tumors  disappear,  but  they  speedily  rise  again  and  are  more  per- 
manent. Possibly  some  of  the  most  urgent  of  the  symptoms  remit 
when  the  tumors  begin  to  appear,  but  towards  night  an  exacerba- 
tion succeeds,  which  does  not  subside  until  the  morning. 

The  prostration  of  strength  increases — the  belly  is  tucked  up  and 
corded — the  flanks  heave  with  greater  violence — the  back  and  loins 
become  bowed — the  limbs  are  drawn  together  towards  the  centre  of 
gravity — the  stools  are  liquid  and  fetid,  and  accompanied  by  much 
straining  and  tenesmus — the  sensibihty  of  the  loins  is  now  subsided 
— the  sensibility  generally  is  almost  gone — the  flies  collect  about  the 
beast,  and  he  makes  no  effort  to  drive  them  away — every  irritant 
ceases  to  act  upon  the  skin — the  respiration  is  quickened,  and  more 
and  more  laborious — it  is  accompanied  by  a  gurgling  noise  in  the 
chest,  distinctly  heard  even  without  the  application  of  the  ear  to  the 
side — the  nostrils  become  yet  more  dilated,  and  the  mucus  flowing 
fiom  them  varies  in  color,  but  exhales  a  cadaverous,  infectious  odor 
— the  breath  is  now  become  cold,  and  is  as  ofiensive  as  the  discharge 


CATTLE. 


— the  pupil  of  the  eye  becomes  dilated — an  offensive  secretion  pro- 
ceeds from  the  lids,  and  the  animal  is  evidently  becoming  blind — the 
prostration  of  strength  still  goes  on — the  beast  falls — he  perhaps 
rises  again  for  a  little  while — and  then  falls  and  dies. 

The  disease  is  sometimes  rapid  in  its  progress,  and  the  animal  is 
destroyed  in  twenty-four  or  eight-and-forty  hours  after  the  first 
attack.  This  is  particularly  the  case  with  young  cattle,  and  those 
that  are  in  good  condition.  At  other  times,  the  beast  lingers  on  six 
or  seven  days. 

On  examination  after  death,  the  lungs  are  gorged  and  black  with 
blood ;  they  are  softened,  and  easily  torn  ;  they,  however,  contain 
some  spots  of  hepatization,  or  condensed  substances,  and  often 
abscesses  filled  with  pus.  In  man}^  parts  gangrene  has  begun,  and 
chiefly  about  the  anterior  portion  of  the  lung.  The  pleura,  the  peri- 
cardium, and  the  diaphragm  are  black,  thickened,  and  disposed  to 
gangrene.  Traces  of  inflammation  are  found  in  the  abdomen,  but 
not  of  so  intense  a  character.  The  rumen  is  filled  with  dry  food ; 
the  contents  of  the  manyplus  are  so  hardened  that  they  may  be 
broken  and  reduced  to  powder ;  the  fourth  stomach  is  more  or  less 
inflamed ;  the  liver  is  enlarged,  and  of  a  yellow  color,  and  the  bile  is 
thickened. 

It  is  evidently  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  associated,  more  or  less, 
with  that  typhoid  form  of  disease  to  which  cattle  are  so  subject. 
Solitary  cases  of  it  are  seen  ;  but  it  often  appears  as  a  kind  of  epi- 
demic. It  used  to  be  called  ganyrenoiis  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
from  the  supposed  gangrenous  state  in  which  the  lungs  were  found  ; 
but  these  appearances  are  produced  more  by  congestion,  and  indicate 
the  violence  with  which  the  blood  has  been  driven  through  the  vessels 
of  the  air-cells,  and  by  which  those  vessels  have  been  ruptured,  and 
the  cells  filled  with  blood.  The  blood,  once  effused,  soon  coagulates 
in  the  cells,  and  gives  that  black,  softened,  pulpy  kind  of  appearance 
which  the  cow-leech  and  the  herdsman  used  to  think  was  proof  posi- 
tive of  rottenness.  It  is  true  that  this  effused  blood  soon  begins  to  be 
decomposed,  and  the  fetid  smell  of  corruption  ensues  ;  but  this  is 
very  diflei  ent  from  gangrene  of  a  living  part.  These  congested  lungs 
show  that  the  inflammation  was  of  the  intensest  character,  and  had 
not  been  long  in  destroying  the  animal. 

A  contagious  character  of  the  disease  is  far  from  being  established. 
No  other  variety  of  pneumonia  with  which  we  are  acquainted  is  con- 
taoious,  at  least  under  ordinary  circumstances  ;  yet  the  farmer  should 
take  the  most  prudent  course,  and  avoid,  as  much  as  he  can,  the 
possibility  of  contagion. 

Few  years  pass  in  which  this  acute  pneumonia  does  not  visit  some 
districts.  The  symptoms  vary,  but  it  is  decidedly  a  disease  of  the 
respii'atory  system  primarily,  and  the  danger  depends  on  the  intensity 
of  the  inflammatory  action  in  the  early  stage,  and  the  degree  in 


ACUTE  AND  EPICEMIC  PNEUMONIA. 


which,  the  vital  power  being  exhausted,  disease  of  a  typhoid  and 
malignant  character  succeeds. 

Of  the  nature  of  the  treatment  there  can  be  no  rational  doubt. 
Although  the  state  of  acute  fever  is  quickly  succeeded  by  one  of  a 
perfectly  contrary  character,  it  is  not  until  it  has  committed  the  most 
earful  ravages.  The  congested  state  of  the  lungs — the  breaking 
down  of  the  substance  of  that  important  part — must  be  sufficient  to 
convince  any  rational  person  of  the  mischief  that  is  going  forward  in 
the  early  stage,  and  the  necessity  of  disarming  the  enemy  before  that 
mischief  is  irreparably  inflicted.  Therefore  this  acute  pneumonia 
should  be  attacked  in  time,  and  by  the  most  energetic  treatment. 
Bleeding  is  the  sheet-anchor,  and  should  be  pushed  to  its  full  extent. 
The  important  fact  that  the  pulse,  duly  attended  to,  will  prevent  the 
possibility  of  injurious  consequences  from  bleeding  in  every  case,  can- 
not be  too  often  alluded  to.  While  the  pulse  keeps  up,  the  power 
of  the  constitution,  or  rather  the  power  of  the  disease,  is  unimpaired ; 
and  the  faltering  of  pulse  gives  timely  warning  that  one  or  the  other 
is  preparing  to  give  way.  It  is  folly  to  object  that  the  after  weaknesg 
will  be  increased,  or  that  the  bleeding  will  undermine  the  power  of 
the  constitution  ;  it  is  the  disease  which  is  doing  this,  and  which  will 
fatally  accomplish  its  work  if  unchecked.  By  weakening  the  power 
of  the  disease,  and  especially  by  its  removal,  the  vigor  of  the  system 
would  be  preserved,  and  the  animal  would  be  saved.  In  proportion 
to  the  intensity  and  rapid  progress  of  the  inflammation  should  be  the 
vigor  the  attack. 

The  state  of  the  cough,  and  heat  of  the  breath,  and  heaving  of  the 
flanks,  will  indicate,  in  the  space  of  a  few  hours,  whether  the  fever  is 
permanently  diminished,  or  has  again  rallied  its  forces ;  and  by  this 
the  practitioner  will  be  guided  as  to  the  propriety  of  a  second  bleed- 
ing, and  the  quantity  of  blood  to  be  taken. 

Physic  will  of  course  succeed.  Two  scruples  of  the  farina  of  the 
Croton  nut  should  first  be  given,  as  most  likely  to  operate  speedily  ; 
and  the  Epsom  salts  and  the  injection-pump  should  be  in  requisition 
until  the  bowels  are  well  opened. 

This  being  accompHshed,  if  the  inflammation  evidently  continues, 
digitalis,  emetic  tartar,  and  nitre  will  be  given.  If  the  fever  is,  to  a 
very  considerable  degree,  subdued,  but  it  is  far  from  certain  whether 
there  may  not  be  Im-king  danger  of  its  return,  the  sedative  medicines 
must  still  be  given,  but  half  an  once  of  the  spirit  of  nitrous  ether 
should  be  added.  This  is  an  excellent  medicine  in  such  cases.  It  is 
both  a  sedative  and  a  tonic.  It  allays  irritation,  and  it  stimulates  to 
healthy  action.  Its  good  efi'ect,  however,  is  often  destroyed  by  its 
being  given  in  enormous  doses.  In  these  doubtful  cases  it  will  rarely 
be  piudent  to  give  more  than  half  an  ounce  ;  and  when  designed  aa 
a  stimulant,  the  dose  st.ould  rarely  or  never  exceed  double  thai 
quantity. 


270  CATTLE. 


If  the  stage  of  debility  be  evidently  and  rapidly  approaching,  the 
chance  of  doing  good  is  almost  gone.  Yet  there  is  no  cause  for 
absolute  despair.  The  mouth  and  nostrils  and  any  suppurating 
tumors  must  be  washed  with  the  chloride  of  lime.  A  small  quantity 
— half  a  drachm — of  the  powder  in  solution  should  be  given  inter- 
nally, morning  and  night.  The  spirit  of  nitrous  ether  and  laudanum, 
in  doses  not  exceeding  an  ounce  of  the  former  with  half  an  ounce  of 
the  latter,  should  be  administered  ;  and  to  them  may  be  added 
ginger,  gentian,  and  Colombo,  the  whole  being  given  in  thick  gruel, 
with  half  a  pint  of  good  ale. 

Malt  mashes,  vetches,  carrots,  clover,  hay — according  to  the  season 
— may  be  offered  as  food,  and,  should  the  situation  and  time  of  the 
year  permit  it,  the  animal  should  be  turned  into  a  salt-marsh  as  soon 
as  it  has  strength  to  travel  there. 

The  epidemic  nature  of  the  malady  not  admitting  of  any  doubt, 
and  its  contagious  character  being  yet  a  question  of  dispute,  while  the 
healthv  beasts  are  separated  from  the  diseased,  the  owner  cannot  too 
often  visit,  nor  too  closely  examine  his  cattle,  in  order  to  detect  the 
earliest  symptom  of  the  disease,  and  to  attack  it  while  there  is  fair 
hope  of  success. 

The  sound  animals,  eveiy  one  of  them,  should  be  bled  and  phys- 
icked. This  inflammation  is  most  intense  in  its  character,  and  strong 
and  healthy  beasts  in  good  condition  fare  the  worst ;  then  care  should 
be  taken  to  remove  a  plethoric  state  of  the  system,  and  thus  to 
remove  the  predisposition  to  disease.  They  should  likewise  be  turned, 
if  possible,  into  a  pasture  good  and  containing  sufficient  nourishment, 
but  not  quite  so  luxuriant  as  that  on  which  they  had  probably  been 
placed. 

[Since  the  first  and  only  edition  of  this  work  printed  in  England, 
this  disease  has  prevailed  feaifully  there.  It  is  known  as  the 
epizootic  and  pleura-pneumonia  by  the  veterinarians ;  and  commonly 
as  the  lung-epidemic.  It  is  now  deemed  contagious.  It  has  assumed 
a  still  more  terrible  form,  and  is  always  fatal  unless  promptly  treated 
on  its  very  commencement ;  not  an  hour  is  to  be  lost. — Am.  jBV/.] 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — Some  dosc^  of  aconitum  at  short  inter- 
vals (every  hour  or  every  two  hours,)  generally  remove  the  violent 
fever,  after  which  some  doses  of  hryonm  (one  morning  and  night,) 
establish  a  perfect  cure  on  the  second  or  third  day.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say  that  the  beast  must  be  carefully  watched  for  some 
time,  and  that  it  must  be  protected  from  damp  and  cold.  Neglected 
cases  of  pneumonia  have  been  cured  by  means  of  china  and  nitrum, 
after  tubercles  had  probably  been  formed  in  the  lungs.  If  the  appe- 
tite be  not  soon  restored,  nux  vomica,  and  aisenicum  should  be  given, 

The  following  medicines  will  also  be  found  very  useful, — tartarus 
emeticus,  sanguinarius  canadensis,  phosphorus,  cannabis,  cinchona,  rhuf 
toxicodendron,  (fee. 


.  •  PLEURISY.  271 

^ ^ 


PLEURISY. 

While  disease  of  the  substance  of  the  lungs  usually  takes  on  the 
form  of  bronchitis  in  cattle,  these  ajiimals  are  nevertheless  subject  to 
inflammation  of  the  pleura;  or  covering  membrane  of  the  lung,  and 
the  lining  one  of  the  chest.  '  Of  the  exciting  causes  of  pneumonia,  the 
most  frequent  and  active,  i'S  the  exposure  to  partial  cold.  The  ox, 
after  hard  work,  and  the  cow,  too  soon  after  parturition,  have  nothing 
but  the  cold,  damp  ground  to  lie  upon.  Even  in  his  stable,  the  ox  is 
too  much  neglected ;  sleeping  on  dung  midergoing  fermentation. 
The  evaporation  and  the  diffusion  of  pestilential  gas  are  in  great 
activity.  Nothing  can  be  more  likely  to  cause  inflammation  of  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  chest.  ': 

Pleurisy  may  be  produced  fey  conttisions  on  the  side,  and  by  wounds 
penetrating  the  thoracic  cavity  :  to  these  evils  the  ox,  among  his 
horned  brethren,  is  much  exposed.    . 

Post-mortem  examination  proves  that,  next  to  bronchitis,  the  most 
frequent  disease  of  the  chest  is  pleurisy. 

Among  the  symptoms  by  which  we  may  distinguish  pleurisy  from 
every  other  inflammatoiy  affection  of  the  chest,  is  the  greater  fre- 
quency of  universal  shivering,  and  particularly  of  shivering  or  trem- 
bling of  the  shoulders.  This  is  a  very  peculiar  symptom,  and  should 
be  carefully  studied.  Even  while  the  animal  is  otherwise  quiet,  the 
shoulders  and  upper  part  of  the  chest  are  trembling  violently. 

The  cough  of  pleurisy  is  lower,  shorter,  and  more  painful  than  that 
of  most  other  chest  affections.  The^bi-eathing,  seldom  so  laborious 
as  in  some  other  cases,  is  shorter  and  broken  off  in  the  act  of  inspira- 
tion, and  lengthened  in  that  of  expiration.  The  sides  are  tender  ;  the 
animal  shrinks  if  they  be  but  lightly  touched  ;  and  thert  are  twitch- 
ings  of  the  skin,  and  a  very  curious  succession  of  wavy  lines  running 
over  the  affected  side  or  sides. 

The  termination  of  pleurisy  is  by  the' effusion  of  fluid  into  the  chest, 
compressing  the  lungs  on  every  side,  gradually  rendering  respiration 
difficult,  and  at  length  impossible,  and' destroying  the  beast  by  suffo- 
cation. 

There  is  httle  difference  in  the  treatment  of  pneumonia  and  pleurisy. 
In  both,  the  inflammation  must  be  subdued  by  bleeding,  physic,  seda- 
tives, blisters,  setons,  and  restricted  tiiet.  Half  an  ounce  of  the 
common  liquid  turpentine  may  be  used  with  advantage,  instead  of 
the  nitre,  when  the  presence  of  pleurisy"  is  clearly  ascertained. 

No  advantage  has  been  taken  of  an  ort)eration  on  the  pleuritic  ox  by 
which  the  fluid  might  be  withdrawn  ..'from  the  ehest.  It  may  be 
worth  the  attempt. 

There  are  generally  adhesions  between  the  covermg  of  the  lung 
and  the  lining  of  the  sides  ;  and  betwe^  the  lung  and  the  diaphragm, 
which  would  always  interfere  materially  with  the  act  of  respiration 


272  CATTLE. 


and  the  health  of  the  animal.  In  all  these  cases  of  chest  affection 
there  is  so  little  prospect  of  savintr  the  beast,  that  it  would  be  the 
interest  of  the  owner  to  have  him  slaughtered  at  the  beginning,  if  he 
be  at  all  in  condition,  or  rather  if  he  be  not  deploribly  thin. 

HomKOjyathic  treatment. — The  chief  remedy  to  be  employed  is 
aconitiun,  of  which  one  dose  is  to  be  taken  every  two,  three,  or  four 
hours,  according  to  the  severity  of  the  fever,  until  it  has  entirely 
ceased.  The  same  doses  of  hryonia  are  to  be  given,  at  intervals  of 
from  eio-ht  to  twelve  hours  at  least,  which  remove  the  remainder  of 
the  disease.  Chamomilla  contributes  to  restore  the  secretion  of  milk 
in  milch  cows. 

PHTHISIS,    OR    CONSUMPTION. 

This  is  only  a  continuation  of  the  same  subject,  or,  rather,  it  is  a 
description  of  another  termination  of  chronic  disease  of  the  lungs. 
One  of  the  consequences  of  continued  inflammation  of  the  lungs  is  the 
formation  of  tubercles.  There  is  a  greater  or  smaller  number  of  little 
distinct  cysts,  or  cells,  into  which  some  fluid  is  poured  in  the  progress 
of  inflammation.  These  enlarge,  and  occupy  a  space  varying  from 
the  size  of  a  pin's  head  to  that  of  a  large  eg^.  By  degrees  the  fluid 
changes  to  a  sohd,  and  the  tumor  becomes  harder  than  the  surround- 
ina^  substance,  and  so  continues  for  awhile — the  consequence  of 
inflammation,  and  the  source  of  new  irritation  and  disease. 

At  leno-th  it  once  more  changes.  The  tubercle  begins  to  soften  at 
its  centre',  something  like  suppuration  goes  on  there,  and  the  contents 
of  the  swellings  become  perfectly  fluid,  but  of  a  difierent  nature  from 
that  which  first  filled  the  cyst.  It  is  now  pus.  The  cyst  increases 
with  greater  or  less  rapidity  ;  it  comes  in  contact  with  neiohboring 
ones,  and  the  walls  of  each  are  absorbed  by  their  mutual  pressure. 
They  run  together  and' form  one  cyst,  which  is  called  an  abscess,  or 
vomica. 

An  animal  possessing  this  tuberculated  state  of  the  lungs,  and  the 
tubercles  running  into  abscesses,  is  said  to  be  consumptive.  So  much 
of  the  lunor  is  destroyed,  that  there  is  not  enough  left  for  the  purposes 
of  life,  and  the  patient  w^astes  away,  and  dies. 

The  lungs  of  the  cow,  after  chronic  or  neglected  catarrh,  or  bron- 
chitis, or  pneumonia,  or  pleurisy,  are  much  disposed  to  assume  this 
tuberculated  and  ulcerated  state.  The  symptoms  of  consumption  are 
not  always  to  be  distinguished  from  those  of  pleurisy,  or  even  pneu- 
monia or  bronchitis  ;  and  sometimes  there  may  be  extensive  ulceration 
of  the  XxxxiQS  without  any  indication  of  disease  sufficient  to  attract 
notice.  When  a  bullock  is  fattened  for  the  butcher,  and  killed,  we 
occasionally  wonder  to  observe  how  little  of  the  lung  is  left  for  the 
purpose  of  breathing. 

A  cough  is  the  earli^-st  symptom,  but  a  cough  of  a  peculiar  char- 


PHTHISIS,   OR  CONSUMPTION.  273 

acter.  lliat  veterinary  surgeon  is  ignorant  of  his  profession,  who 
does  not  at  once,  and  at  a  distance,  -recognize  the  cough  which, 
although  it  may  not  precisely  indicate  pfcthisis,  betrays  a  state  of  the 
lungs  pregnant  with  danger.  # 

If  the  cough  be  sonorous  and  clear,  the  lung  is  not  yet  fatally 
injured.  That  cough,  however,  must  not  be  neglected  long.  It  is 
the  product  of  intlaramation,  that  may  be  silently,  but  rapidly, 
disorganizing  the  lungs.  The  prudent  man  will  not  suffer  such  a 
cough  to  continue  many  days,  without  giving  a  mash,  or  a  dose  of 
physic  ;  or,  perchance,  bleeding,  and  inserting  a  seton.  This  is  one 
of  the  points  to  which  we  cannot  too  often  recur.  It  is  new  practice 
— new  doctrine  ;  the  interests  of  the  agriculturist  are  peculiarly  con- 
nected with  it. 

By-and-by,  this  cough  becomes  altered.  It  is  no  longer  loud,  and 
clear,  and  careless  ;  it  is  lower  in  ite  tone — feeble — hoarse.  Mischief 
has  now  been  done,  and  perhaps  of  an  irreparable  kind.  The  farmer 
will  not  always  be  able  to  point  out  the  precise  nature  of  the  affection 
of  the  chest  from  the  sound  of  the  cough  ;  but  he  will  soon  learn  to 
do  it  much  oftener,  and  much  more  cerlainly.  than  he  has  hitherto 
thought  it  possible.  In  simple  catarrh  there  is  an  unchecked  effort 
of  the  lungs  to  force  on  the  cough  r>  yet  some  hoarseness  may  attend 
that  cough,  plainly  referable  to  the  upper  air-passages.  In  bronchitis 
there  will  also  be  a  forcible  effort ;  the  mucus  is  viscid  ;  and  the 
membrane  of  the  tubes  is  thickened ;  and  the  passage  is  diminished  ; 
and  considerable  force  must  be  used  to  urge  on  a  volume  of  air,  and 
to  carry  the  mucus  before  it ;  but  it  is  a  force  which  acts  slowly,  and 
by  pressure,  for  the  membrane  being  inflamed  is  tender.  The  cough 
shows  pain  ;  it  is  no  longer  full  and  perfect ;  it  is  slowly  performed, 
and  at  the  same  time  husky  and  wheezing,  and  the  mucus  rattles  in 
the  passage  as  it  is  forced  along.  In  pneumonia  the  cough  is  fre- 
quent— sore  ;  but  it  is  not  so  sore  as  in  bronchitis,  for  it  has  not  the 
same  inflamed  membrane  to  pass  over  ;  it  is,  however,  painful,  for 
the  substance  of  the  lung  is  inflamed,  and  therefore  it  is  low,  and,  to 
a  certain  degree,  suppressed.  In  pleurisy,  the  cough  is  sharper, 
spasmodic,  yet  not  loud.  Hitherto  the  pain  has  been  confined  to  the 
lungs  ;  here  the  lining  membrane  of  the  chest  is  affected,  and  intense 
pain  felt  at  every  rising  and  faUing  of  the  chest ;  therefore  the  cough 
k  short — it  is  cut  short — it  is  somewhat  spasmodic,  and  yet  no  louder 
than  can  be  helped. 

The  cough  of  incipient  consumption  \»  an  inward,  feeble,  painful, 
hoarse,  rattling,  gurgling  one.  It  reveals  fearful  disorganization, 
which  can  seldom  be  repaired.  The  j)rocess  of  disorganization  is  not 
rapid.  Weeks  and  months,  or,  under  favorable  circumstances,  years, 
may  pass  on,  and  few  other  symptoms  be  added  to  this  peculiar 
cough. 

Here  is  disorganizarion  of  the  lungs — disorganization  which  may 
12* 


274  CATTLE. 


in  a  few  cases,  be  repaired,  but  in  the  great  majority  of  them  will 
proceed  to  its  fatal  termination.  It  is  a  disorganization  which  doe8 
not  immediately  interfere  with  the  discharge  of  the  functions  cf  life. 
The  beast  will  fatten,  and,  perhaps,  almost  as  rapidly  as  before.  In 
some  cases  it  has  been  imagined  that  by  careful  feeding,  a  very  con- 
siderable degree  of  condition  has  been  acquired  with  unusual  quick- 
ness ;  but  this  will  not  last  long.  The  effect  of  diseased  structu:  e, 
and  diminished  substance  of  the  lungs,  will  soon  tell  in  the  unthrifti- 
ness  and  loss  of  condition  of  the  beast.  It  will  not  be  prudent  to 
attempt  any  medical  treatment  at  all,  or  at  least  beyond  that  of  a 
mere  palliative  nature. 

If  any  thing  is  to  be  done,  bleeding  will  be  here,  as  in  other  in- 
flammatory cases,  the  first  step,  but  pursued  in  a  more  cautious  man- 
ner than  in  any  of  the  others — never  pushed  beyond  the  very  first 
indication  of  its  proper  effect,  nor  repeated  until  after  due  considera- 
tion, and  a  full  conviction  that  renewed  irritation  is  beginning  to  be 
set  up.  To  this  must  be  added  mild  doses  of  physic,  and  the  use  of 
the  sedative  medicines ;  with  proper  care  that  the  animal  is  not  un- 
necessarily exposed  to  the  vicissitudes  of  the  weather,  and  yet  avoid- 
ing too  much  nursing. 

If  treatment  be  tried,  there  is  one  circumstance  and  one  only, 
which  will  enable  one  to  understand  the  real  ground,  and  that  is,  the 
character  of  the  cough,  which  will  still  remain,  although  much  less 
frequent.  Is  it  the  clear,  sonorous  cough  which  indicates  the  com- 
parative healthiness  of  the  air-passages,  or  doe-s  it  continue  to  be,  to 
a  greater  or  less  degree,  painful,  inward,  feeble,  and  gurgling  ?  If 
the  latter,  the  amendment  is  delusive.  It  is  one  of  those  temporary 
rallyings  of  nature,  or  transient  effects  of  medicine,  which  are  some- 
times witnessed  ;  or,  perhaps  there  has  been  some  salutary  change 
of  atmospheric  influence  :  but  there  is  mischief  still — and  the  most 
salutary  advice  would  be,  to  dispose  of  the  animal  while  something 
like  its  value  can  be  obtained.  Weeks,  months  may  pass  on  ;  but  by- 
and-by — the  symptoms  of  confirmed  phthisis  appear,  and  the  animal 
is  lost. 

This  second,  and  more  violent  attack,  has  many  symptoms  similar 
to  those  that  have  been  described  as  attendins:  the  latter  stages  of 
bronchitis  or  pleurisy  ;  but  there  are  a  few  which  would  point  out 
the  nature  and  seat  of  the  disease  when  there  is  no  previous  history 
of  the  case  to  guide  the  practitioner.  The  milk  gradually  diminishes, 
and,  had  it  been  examined  before  its  diminution,  an  evident  deterioration 
in  quality  would  have  been  observ^ed  ;  it  has  acquired  an  unpleasant 
flavor — it  quickly  becomes  sour — it  spoils,  or  gives  a  peculiar  taste 
to  that  with  which  it  is  mixed.  The  butter  that  is  made  from  it  i§ 
ill-flavored,  and  the  cheese  will  not  acquiie  a  proper  consistence. 
Some  have  said  that  the  milk  is  of  a  blue  color,  and  that  it  has  more 
s^rum  in  ils  composition  than  ordinary  and  healthy  milk. 


PHTHISIS,  OR  CONSUMPTION.  271 

When  consumption  begins  to  be  confirmed,  the  animal  loses  flesh 
with  greater  or  less  rapidity,  and  becomes  weak.  She  eats  with 
almost  undiminished  appetite ;  but  the  process  of  rumination  re- 
quiiing  long,  and  new  fatiguing  action  of  the  jaws,  is  slowly  and 
lazily  performed.  There  is  frequently  a  discharge  from  the  mouth 
or  nostrils,  or  both  ;  at  first  colorless  and  without  smell,  but  soon 
becoming  purulent,  bloody,  and  fetid.  Diarrhoea  is  present,  and 
that  to  a  degree  on  which  the  most  powerful  astringents  can  make 
no  impression.  Then,  also,  appears  the  inflammation  of  the  tissue 
beneath  the  skin.  Whatever  part  of  the  animal  is  pressed  upon, 
she  shrinks  ;  and  if  upon  the  loins,  she  moans  with  pain.  The  skin 
becomes  dry  and  rcaly ;  and  it  strangely  creaks  as  the  animal  crawls 
staggering  along. 

One  circumstance  is  very  remarkable  and  characteristic.  The 
mind  and  animal  desires  even  of  this  comparatively  dull  and  in- 
sensible being  are  roused  to  an  extreme  degree  of  intensity.  The 
cow  is,  in  many  cases,  almost  continually  in  heat.  When  she  is 
impregnated,  the  oestrum  does  not  go  off";  and  the  consequence  of 
this  continuance  of  excitement  is  that  she  is  very  subject  to  abor- 
tion. 

One  of  the  causes  of  consumption,  almost  unsuspected  by  many 
breeders,  and  sufficiently  guarded  against  only  by  a  few — heredi- 
tary predisposition — cannot  be  spoken  of  in  too  strong  terms.  It  is 
rare  that  the  ofi'spring  of  a  consumptive  cow  is  not  also  consumptive. 
If  it  be  a  heifer-calf,  she  may  possibly  live  a  little  after  her  first  calv- 
ing, and  then  she  usually  sickens,  and  the  disease  proceeds  with  a 
rapidity  unknown  in  the  mother. 

Change  of  climate  is  a  frequent  cause.  Some  dairymen  are  aware 
how  much  depends  on  the  cow  being  suited  to  the  climate,  or, 
rather,  being  in  her  native  climate.  This  explains  the  strange  diff"er- 
ence  of  opinion  with  regard  to  breeds.  Almost  every  farmer  is 
partial  to  his  own  breed,  and  undervalues  those  of  other  districts, 
and  even  those  of  his  neighbors ;  and,  to  a  very  great  degree,  he  is 
right.  His  cattle  breathe  their  native  air  ;  they  are  in  a  climate  to 
which,  by  a  slow  and  most  beneficial  process,  and  extending  through 
many  a  generation  back,  their  constitution  has  been  in  a  manner 
moulded  ;  and  it  is  only  after  a  long  seasoning,  and  sometimes  one 
attended  by  no  little  peril,  that  the  stranger  becomes  at  home  in  a 
foreign  district,  and  so  adapted  and  reconciled  to  the  temperature, 
and  degree  of  dryness  or  moisture,  and  to  the  diff'erence  of  soil  and 
herbage,  as  to  do  quite  as  well,  and  yield  as  much  and  as  good  milk, 
as  in  the  vale  in  which  she  was  reared. 

Experience  teaches  that  a  change  of  climate  involving  a  material 
difi'erence  in  temperature,  or  soil,  or  herbage,  is  frequently  prejudicial ; 
and  that  while  there  is  derangement  in  every  system,  the  respiratory 
one  seems  .o  suffer  most,  and  a  slow,  insidious,  yet  fatal  change  is 


276  CATTLE. 


tliere  oftenest  effected.  If  a  dairy  of  cows  be  removed  from  a  moist 
situation  to  a  dry  and  colder  one,  consumption  will  often  appear 
among  them,  although  a  dry  Jiir  is  otherwise  esteemed  a  specific 
against  the  complaint ;  but  if  they  be  taken  from  a  dry  situation, 
and  put  on  a  woody  and  damp  one,  phthisis  is  sure  to  appear  before 
the  first  season  is  past. 

There  is  one  striking  fact,  showing  the  injurious  effect  of  heated 
and  empoisoned  air  on  the  pulmonary  system.  There  are  some  cow- 
houses in  which  the  heat  is  intense,  and  the  inmates  are  often  in  a 
state  of  profuse  perspiration.  The  doors  and  the  windows  must 
sometimes  be  opened,  and  then  the  wind  blows  in  cold  enough  upon 
those  that  are  close  to  them,  and,  one  would  naturally  think,  could 
not  fail  of  being  injurious.  No  such  thing.  These  are  the  animals 
who  escape  ;  but  the  others,  at  the  farther  end,  on  whom  no  wind 
blows,  and  where  no  perspiration  is  checked,  are  the  first  to  have 
boose,  inflammation,  and  consumption.  This  fact  speaks  volumes 
with  regard  to  the  management  on  many  a  farm. 

In  dismissing  the  diseases  of  the  respiratory  system,  the  author  is 
far  more  disposed  to  direct  attention  to  the  preventive  than  the  medi- 
cal treatment.  By  the  former  one  may  do  much.  Let  the  over- 
filled cow-houses  be  enlarged,  and  the  close  and  hot  ones  be  better 
ventilated  ;  let  neglect,  and  exposure,  and  starvation  yield  to  more 
judicious  and  humane  treatment ;  when  cattle  are  fed  on  dry  food, 
let  them  have  sufficient  to  drink  two  or  three  times  every  da}^ ;  let 
those  that  exhibit  decided  symptoms  of  consumption  be  removed  from 
the  dairy,  not  because  the  disease  is  contagious,  but  because  it  is 
undeniably  hereditary  ;  and,  where  so  little  can  be  done  in  the  way 
of  cure,  let  nothing  be  omitted  in  the  way  of  prevention. 

Iodine  possesses  powder  to  arrest  the  growth  of  tubercles  in  the 
lungs,  and  even  to  disperse  them  when  recently  formed.  It  may 
not  be  a  specific  for  phthisis  or  consumption  in  cattle,  but  it  has 
saved  some  that  would  otherwise  have  perished,  and,  for  a  while, 
prolonged  the  existence  and  somewhat  restored  the  condition  of  more. 
Let  the  proprietor  of  cattle,  and  more  especially  practitioners,  study 
closely  the  symptoms  of  phthisis,  as  detailed,  and  make  themselves 
masters  of  the  inward,  feeble,  painful,  hoarse,  gurgling  cough  of  con- 
sumption, and  as  soon  as  they  are  assured  that  this  termination  or 
consequence  of  catarrh,  or  pneumonia,  or  pleurisy,  begins  to  have 
existence — that  tuber6.es  have  been  formed,  and,  perhaps,  have  be- 
gun to  suppurate — let  them  have  recourse  to  the  iodine,  in  the  form 
of  the  hydriodate  of  potash,  given  in  a  small  mash,  in  doses  of  three 
grains,  morning  and  evening,  at  the  commencement  of  the  treatment, 
and  gradually  increased  to  six  or  eight  grains.  To  this  should  be 
added  proper  attention  to  comfort ;  yet  not  too  much  nursing  ;  and 
free  access  to  succulent,  but  rot  stimulating,  food  ;  and  the  medicine 
should  be  continued  not  only  antil  the  general  condition  of  the  beast 


PHTHISIS,  OR  CONSUMPTION.  ZH 


begins  to  improve,  but  until  the  character  of  the  cough  has  been  es- 
sentially changed. 

Homoeopathic  Treatment. — Nitrum,  given  at  the  commencement 
of  the  disease,  which,  no  doubt,  is  then  difficult  of  recognition,  pro- 
duces good  effects,  being  employed  alternately  with  sulphur.  If  the 
phthisis  has  already  become  more  developed,  much  good  may  be 
obtained  from  stannum  and  phosphorus.  Mercurius  vivus  has  also 
been  proposed  alternately  with  hepar  suJphuris.  Colchicum  is  useful 
for  the  relief  of  the  state  of  meteorization  or  formation  of  gas  in  the 
stomach,  which  often  accompanies  phthisis. 


278  CATTLE. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

THE  STRUCTURE  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  GULLET  AND  STOMACHS. 
THE    CESOPHAGUS,   OR    GULLET. 

The  food  having  been  forced  along  the  posterior  part  of  the  mouth 
by  the  consecutive  action  of  the  tongue  and  the  muscles  of  the 
pharynx,  reaches  the  oesojjhagus,  or  gullet.  This  tube  extends  from 
the  mouth  to  the  stomachs,  and  conveys  the  food  from  the  one  to 
the  other.  In  cattle  this  is  true  in  a  double  sense  ;  for  not  only  does 
the  food  descend  from  the  mouth  to  one  of  the  stomachs,  when  it  is 
jBrst  gathered,  but  is  returned  for  a  second  mastication,  and  after- 
wards, a  third  time,  traces  the  same  path  to  its  destination  in  the 
true  digestive  stomach.  There  is  some  peculiarity  of  structure  in 
the  oesophagus,  in  order  to  prepare  it  for  this  increased  duty. 

We  first  observe  the  great  thickness  and  strength  of  the  gullet  in 
the  ox.  The  outer  coat  of  loose  cellular  substance  is  yielding  and 
elastic.  The  second  coat  is  a  muscular  one,  and  of  great  substance 
and  power.  Its  increased  substance  enables  it  to  dilate,  when  the 
laro-e  pellets  of  rapidly  plucked  grass,  or  pieces  of  parsnip  or  potato, 
or  other  hard  roots,  enter  it ;  and  the  same  increase  of  muscular 
substance  enables  it  to  contract  more  powerfully  on  such  food,  and 
pass  it  on  to  the  stomach.  There  are  two  layers  of  muscles  in  the 
gullet  of  all  our  domesticated  animals,  and  the  fibres  of  the  outer 
and  inner  layer  run  in  different  directions,  and  with  plain  and  mani- 
fest reference  to  the  natural  food  and  habits  of  the  animal. 

The  fibres  of  both  layers  of  the  muscular  coat  are  spiral,  but  they 
wind  their  way  round  the  gullet  in  contrary  directions,  admitting 
thus  of  the  lengthening  and  shortening  of  the  tube  in  grazing  and 
swallowing  ;  ofjfering,  perhaps  not  so  much  pressure  on  the  food, 
and  which  the  lazy  mastication  and  rumination  of  the  animal  does 
not  require  ;  and  permitting  a  great  deal  more  dilitation  when  some 
large  and  hard  substance  finds  its  way  into  the  gullet. 

The  inner  coat,  a  continuation  of  the  membrane  of  the  pharynx, 
is  quite  cuticulir,  smooth,  and  glistening.  It  lies  in  longitudinal 
plaits,  so  wide  and  numerous  as  sufficiently  to  dilate  wh^n  the  food 
passes,  and  to  add  very  little  to  the  obstacle  when  a  porl'on  of  food 
unusually  large  is  arrested  in  its  passage. 


THE  CESOPHAGUS,  OR  PROBANG.  279 

The  gullet  pursues  its  course  down  the  neck  on  the  left  of  the 
■windpipe,  until  it  reaches  the  chest.  It  enters  with  the  windpipe 
and  blood-vessels  through  the  opening  between  the  two  first  ribs, 
and  then  winds  its  way  along  the  upper  part,  until  it  reaches  the 
diaphragm,  which  it  pierces,  and  then  soon  terminates  in  a  singular 
canal,  which  will  presently  be  described. 

OBSTRUCTIOX    IN    THE    GULLET. 

This  is  commonly  called  cAoArm^.  When  a  beast  is  first  put  on 
carrots,  or  parsnips,  or  potatoes,  or  turnips,  he  is  very  apt  to  be 
choked.  The  first  mastication  is  always  a  very  careless  afiair,  and 
everything  that  is  put  before  the  anima^  is  swallowed  with  very  httle 
chewing.  If  the  herdsman  has  not  been  attentive  in  slicing  or 
bruising  the  roots,  mischief  of  this  kind  is  likely  to  happen.  It  hap- 
pens often  when  eggs,  to  promote  condition  in  cattle,  are  given 
whole,  or  loaded  with  tar,  or  some  nauseous  drug,  in  cases  of  blain, 
hoose,  mawsick,  or  other  supposed  stomach  complaints. 

When  the  root  sticks  in  the  gullet,  and  can  be  evidently  seen  and 
felt  there,  the  farmer  or  the  cowherd  first  gets  his  cart-whip — in 
good  hands  not  a  dangerous  instrument,  on  account  of  its  being  plia- 
ble and  yielding ;  others  take  a  cart-rope,  which  is  somewhat  more 
objectionable,  because  the  ends  may  do  mischief.  They  who  have 
neither  good  sense  nor  regard  for  the  sufferings  they  may  inflict, 
take  even  a  common  rack-stick.  Whatever  it  be,  they  thrust  it  down 
the  gullet  and  work  away  might  and  main,  to  drive  the  offending 
body  down. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  some  instrument  should  be  introduced  into 
the  gullet,  in  order  to  push  the  root  into  the  stomach,  but  it  is  the 
force  that  is  used  to  which  we  object,  and  that  does  all  the  mischief. 

DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    (ESOPHAGUS    PROBANG. 

Every  farmer  should  have  a  flexible  probang  ready  for  use,  either 
of  the  improved  kind,  as  contrived  by  Mr.  Read,  or  on  the  plan  of 
that  which  was  first  introduced  by  Dr.  Monro. 

The  cut  on  p.  280  will  give  a  sufiicient  idea  of  the  construction  of 
the  most  useful  probang,  or  oesophagus-tube. 

Fig.  1.  a.  The  tube,  made  either  of  simple  leather,  or  of  leather 
covering  a  canal  formed  of  spiral  wire.  It  is  about  four  feet  and  a 
half  in  length,  so  as  to  reach  from  the  mouth  to  the  rumen,  and 
leaving  a  sufficient  portion  outside  the  mouth  for  it  to  be  firmly 
grasped. 

h.  The  stilett,  represented  as  introduced  into  the  tube,  and  run- 
ning the  whole  length  of  it.  It  gives  greater  firmness  and  strength 
to  the  tube,  when  it  is  either  passed  into  the  stomach  in  cases  of 
hoove,  or  used  to  force  anything  down  the  gullet. 

c.  The  handle  of  the  stilett. 


280 


CATTLE. 


d.  A  hollow  piece  of  wood  running  freely  upon  the  stilett,  and 
placed  between  the  handle  of  the  stilett  and  the  round  extremity  of 
the  tube.  The  stilett  is  longer  than  the  tube  by  the  extent  of  this 
piece  of  wood,  but  is  prevented  from  protruding  beyond  the  bulb  of 
the  tube  at  the  other  end,  by  the  interposition  of  this  slider  at  the 
handle.  The  stilett  may  be  introduced  at  either  end  of  the  tube. 
It  is  usually  inserted  at  e,  when  the  instrument  is  used  to  force  any 
obstructing  body  down  the  throat,  because  the  enlarged  and  bulbous 
termination  of  the  tube  at  the  other  end  has  a  flat  or  rather  concave 
surface,  and  can  therefore  act  with  more  effect  and  power  on  the 
substance  which  sticks  in  the  throat. 


/Vy  / 


e.  The  end  of  the  tube  which  is  introduced  into  the  paunch  in 
cases  of  hoove.  Its  rounded  extremity  will  permit  it  to  be  more 
easily  forced  through  the  roof  of  the  paunch,  and  it  is  perforated 
with  holes  for  the  escape  of  the  gas  with  which  the  paunch  may  be 
distended. 

Fig.  2  represents  the  whalebone  stilett,  with  the  hollow  piece  of 
wood  running  upon  it,  and  shows  how  easily  it  may  be  withdrawn 
from  the  stilett  when  that  is  taken  out  of  the  tube.  The  running 
piece  of  wood  being  withdrawn,  if  the  handle  of  the  stilett  be  then 
pushed  down  on  the  bulb  of  the  tube,  a  portion  of  it  will  project  at 
the  other  end  ;  and  by  moving  the  stilett  up  and  down  in  the  tube, 
this  may  be  made  to  act  on  the  obstructing  body,  in  the  manner  and 
with  somewhat  of  the  force  of  a  hammer. 
Fig.  3  will  be  presently  described. 

Fig.  4  is  a  piece  of  thick  strong  wood,  widest  at  the  centre,  ana 
there  perforated.  It  is  introduced  into  the  mouth  in  order  to  keep 
it  open  during  the  use  of  the  probang,  which  is  inserted  through  the 
hole  in  the  centre.  Leathern  straps  are  nailed  to  the  extremities  : 
these  are  buckled  round  the  horns,  and  by  means  of  them  this  mouth- 
piece is  securely  fastened ;  while  one  of  the  extremities,  being  grasped 


OPERATION  FOR  OBSTRUGTIOx^J  IN  THE  GULLET.  281 


by  ^le  operator,  forms  a  very  useful  point  of  support  during  the  use 
of  the  tube.  The  farmer  should  also  have  another  mouth-piece,  with 
a  central  hole  that  will  admit  of  the  passage  of  a  small  hand.  He 
will  thus  be  enabled  to  get  at  and  to  remove  substances  that  have 
not  descended  beyond  the  commencement  of  the  gullet,  or  that  have 
been  returned  so  far  by  means  to  be  hereafter  described.  This  mouth- 
piece will  be  very  useful  in  cases  of  polypus  in  the  nose  and  many 
diseases  of  the  pharynx  ;  but  it  would  be  too  large  to  be  long  con- 
tinued in  the  mouth  without  great  pain  to  the  animal,  nor  could  the 
probang  be  so  securely  or  effectually  worked  through  so  extensive  an 
aperture.  It  is  high  time  that  those  rude,  dangerous,  and  ineffectual 
instruments — the  cart-whip,  and  the  cart-rope,  and  the  rack-stick — 
should  be  banished  from  the  practice  of  the  veterinary  surgeon,  and 
discarded  by  the  farmer  too. 

MODE  OF  OPERATING  FOR  THE  REMOVAL  OF  SUBSTANCES  OBSTRUCTING 

THE  GULLET. 

•If  a  COW  has  swallowed  a  potato,  or  turnip,  too  large  to  descend 
the  gullet,  and  which  is  arrested  in  its  progress,  and  evidently  seen 
at  a  certain  distance  down  the  throat,  the  farmer  should  have  imme- 
diate recourse  to  the  oesophagus-tube,  introducing  the  flatter  end 
into  the  throat,  and  using  moderate  force.  If  the  obstructing  body 
yield  to  this,  he  will  be  justified  in  pushing  it  on  within  the  chest; 
but  if,  with  the  application  of  a  fair  degree  of  force,  it  is  very  slowly 
and  with  difficulty  pushed  on,  the  operator  should  instantly  rehn- 
quish  the  determination  to  drive  it  down,  for  the  fibres  of  the  mus- 
cular coat  of  the  gullet  soon  become  irritated  by  the  continued 
distension,  and  contract  powerfully,  and,  as  it  were,  spasmodically, 
upon  the  foreign  body,  and  imprison  it  there.  It  should  also  be  re- 
membered that  the  gullet  itself  becomes  smaller  as  soon  as  it  has 
entered  the  thorax ;  and,  consequently,  that  which  can  be  moved 
only  with  difficulty  in  the  upper  part  of  the  neck,  will  not  be  moved 
at  all  in  the  lower  portion  of  it. 

The  next  consideration  then  is,  whether,  although  the  obstiucting 
body  cannot  be  driven  on,  it  may  not  be  solicited,  or  forced  back- 
ward. The  fibres  of  the  upper  part  of  the  gullet  have  already 
yielded,  and  suffered  this  substance  to  pass  them — they  are  Some- 
what weakened  by  the  unnatural  distension — they  have  not  yet  had 
time  to  recover  their  tone,  and  they  may  yield  again.  It  is  at  least 
worth  the  trial. 

The  internal  coat  of  the  oesophagus  is  naturally  smooth  and 
glistening  ;  it  may,  however,  be  made  more  so,  and  the  surface  of 
the  obstructing  body  may  be  polished  too.  A  half-pint  of  olive  oil 
should  be  poured  down  the  threat,  and  an  attempt  then  made  with 
the  fingers,  applied  externally,  to  give  the  body  a  retrograde  motion. 
By  patient  manipulation  this  will  be  effected  much  oftener  than  ia 


282  CATTLE. 


imagined.  The  intruding  substance  will  be  dislodged  from  the  situa- 
tion in  Avhich  it  was  impacted,  and  will  be  brought  to  the  upper  part 
of  'the  oesophagus,  or  even  into  the  pharynx,  and  will  then  be  some- 
times got  rid  of  by  the  efforts  of  the  beast  itself,  or  may  oe  easily 
drawn  out  by  means  of  a  hand  introduced  through  the  large  mouth- 
piece to  which  reference  was  made  in  the  explanation  of  the  oeso- 
phagus-tube. 

If  the  obstructing  body  cannot  be  moved  in  this  way,  we  are  not 
yet  without  resource.  Mr.  Read  has  made  an  important  improve- 
ment on,  or  addition  to,  the  cesophagus-tube,  in  the  form  of  a  cork- 
screw.    Vide  fig.  3,  in  the  preceding  cut, 

a.  The  leather  tube,  as  before,  but  somewhat  larger,  ai.d  longer, 
and  stronger ;  and  the  upper  part  of  it,  for  the  purpose  of  additional 
strength,  composed  of  brass. 

h.  The  handle  of  the  stilett,  which  runs  through  it,  as  through  the 
other  tube. 

c.  One  of  two  pieces  of  wood  placed  between  the  handle  and  the 
tube  ;  hollowed  so  as  to  fit  the  stilett ;  removable  in  a  moment,  and, 
like  the  hollow  piece  of  wood  in  the  other  tube,  permitting  the  stilett 
to  be  two  or  three  inches  longer  than  the  tube.  They  are  here 
removed,  and  one  of  them  hangs  down,  suspended  by  a  string. 

d.  The  bulb  which  is  introduced  through  the  mouth-piece,  and 
forced  down  the  gullet.  It  is  considerably  larger  than  those  at  the 
ends  of  the  other  tube,  but  not  so  large  as  the  distended  gullet. 

e.  A  corkscrew  fixed  to  the  end  of  the  stilett,  and  which,  coming 
out  in  the  centre  of  the  knob,  cannot  possibly  wound  the  gullet. 

When  this  instrument  is  used,  the  stilett  is  pulled  up  so  that  the 
screw  is  perfectly  retracted  and  concealed  within  the  knob.  The 
pieces  of  wood,  c,  are  placed  upon  the  stilett,  between  the  handle 
and  the  top  of  the  tube,  and  tied  there,  so  that  the  screw  is  now  fixed 
within  the  knob  ;  and  the  instrument  is  introduced  through  the 
mouth-piece,  and  forced  down  the  throat  until  it  reaches  the  obstruc- 
tion. The  pieces  of  wood  are  then  untied,  and,  by  turning  the  han- 
dle, the  screw  is  worked  into  the  obstructing  body,  as  the  commoti 
corkscrew  is  into  a  cork  in  the  neck  of  a  bottle.  If  the  potato  or 
turnip  be  fresh  and  sound,  it  would  hardly  be  credited  what  purchase 
IS  obtained,  and  in  how  many  instances  the  nuisance  may  be  drawn 
up  the  throat  and  got  rid  of.  If  the  centre  of  the  root  should  give 
way,  and  a  portion  of  it  only  be  brought  out,  there  is  still  some  good 
done,  and  the  screw  should  be  returned  again  and  again,  until  it  will 
no  longer  take  hold.  By  this  time,  probably,  the  root  will  have  been 
80  weakened  and  broken  down  that  it  will  yield  to  the  pressure  of  the 
first  probang,  and  be  forced  along  into  the  rumen  ;  or  at  least  it  will 
be  so  weakened,  that  the  stilett  of  the  first  tube  may  be  used  with 
advantage. 

The  stilett  must  he  withdran  from  the  tube,  and  the  running  piece 


OPERATION  FOR  OBSTRUCTION  IN  THE  GULLET.  283 

of  wood  taken  away ;  the  stilett  is  then  returned  to  its  sheath,  and 
may  be  made  to  project  a  couple  of  inches  beyond  the  knob.  It  is 
retracted,  and  the  tube  is  passed  into  the  throat ;  when  it  will  be 
evident  that  the  operator  may  use  either  the  comparatively  broad 
part  of  the  knob,  or  the  small  and  sharp  stilett,  as  the  case  may  seem 
to  require.  To  the  first  he  can  only  apply  simple  pressure — to  the 
stilett  he  can  give  a  percussive  action.  By  sharply  pushing  down  the 
handle  of  the  stilett,  he  will  make  the  other  end  act  with  the  power 
of  a  little  hammer,  and  thus  may  break  down,  and  probably  work 
through,  the  centre  of  the  root,  as  in  the  case  which  has  been 
just  related.  A  perforation  having  been  made  through  the  centre, 
and  the  obstruction  having  been  previously  torn  and  weakened  by  the 
screw,  the  whole  may  gradually  be  broken  down,  or  will  more  readily 
yield  to  pressure. 

These  directions  have  been  founded  on  the  supposition  that  tne 
foreign  body  is  lodged  in  the  gullet  above  the  entrance  into  the 
thorax  ;  and  if  the  operator  fails  in  all  these  contrivances,  perhaps  he 
will  now  admit,  although  reluctantly,  the  application  of  external  force. 
It  has  been  recommended  to  place  a  small  piece  of  wood  against  the 
gullet,  and  in  contact  with  that  portion  of  the  skin  which  covers  the 
obstructing  body,  and  then,  with  a  wooden  mallet,  to  hammer  away 
against  the  opposite  side.  The  root  has  been  thus  occasionally 
broken  down,  and  then  forced  on  with  the  cart-whip ;  but  more 
frequently  the  beast  has  been  sadly  punished,  without  any  good  effect 
having  been  produced  ;  and,  in  some  instances,  although  the  nuisance 
was  for  a  while  got  rid  of,  so  much  tenderness  of  the  gullet  remained, 
and  inflammation  arose,  and  ran  to  such  an  extent,  that  the  animal 
did  not  regain  its  appetite  for  many  weeks  afterwards,  or  pined  away, 
and  became  comparatively  worthless.  The  practitioner  will,  therefore, 
unwillingly  have  recourse  to  this,  and  will  be  justified  in  first  seeing 
what  bleeding  will  do.  There  is  not  a  more  powerful  relaxant  than 
bleeding — and  especially  when  it  is  carried  on,  if  necessary,  to  abso- 
lute fainting.  For  awhile  every  spasmodic  action  ceases,  and  every 
muscular  fibre  loses  its  power  to  contract.  The  operator  wmII,  proba- 
bly, take  advantage  of  the  momentary  relaxation,  in  order  to  force 
the  body  either  upward  or  downward — upward  first,  and  by  far  in 
preference  ;  or  if  downward,  yet  still  cautiously  balancing  in  his 
mind  the  degree  of  resistance  with  the  chance  of  ultimate  success  ; 
for,  if  the  resistance  continues  to  be  considerable,  he  may  depend 
upon  it  that  when  he  has  arrived  at  the  thorax,  all  further  efforts  will 
be  fruitless,  and  the  patient  will  be  lost. 

He  has  one  last  resource,  and  he  needs  not  to  be  so  afraid  of  ven- 
turing upon  it.  There  is  the  operation  of  oesophacfotomy,  or  the  cut- 
ting down  upon  the  obstruction,  and  thus  removing  it.  The  veteri- 
nary surgeon  will  never  find,  or  ought  never  to  find,  difficulty  here. 
After  having  passed  a  httle  way  down  the  neck,  the  cesophagus  is 


284  CATTLE 


found  on  the  left  of  the  trachea,  and  between  the  carotid  and  the 
jug-ular.  The  artery  will  be  detected  by  its  puli^ation,  and  the  vein 
by  its  turgescence.  The  only  muscle  that  can  be  in  danger  is  the 
sterno-maxillaris,  and  that  may,  in  a  very  great  majority  of  cases,  be 
avoided,  or,  if  it  be  wounded,  no  ^reat  mischief  will  ensue. 

The  animal  should  be  cast,  (at  least  this  is  the  safest  way,  as  it 
regards  both  the  operator  and  the  patient.)  It  should  be  thrown  on 
the  right  side,  and  the  head  should  be  a  little  stretched  out,  but 
lying  as  flat  as  the  horns  will  permit.  The  place  of  obstruction  will 
be  seen  at  once.  An  incision  is  by  some  persons  made  immediately 
into  the  gullet,  sufficiently  long  for  the  extraction  of  the  root.  The 
safer  way,  however,  is  for  the  cellular  substance  to  be  a  littb  dissected 
away  before  the  gullet  is  opened,  when,  if  the  incision  be  long  enough, 
the  incarcerated  body  will  readily  escape.  The  edges  of  the  oesopha- 
gus should  then  be  brought  together,  and  confined  by  two  or  three 
stitches  ;  the  skin  should  also  have  the  same  number  passed  through 
it,  the  ends  of  the  stitches  of  the  gullet  having  been  brought  throus^h 
the  external  wound.  The  beast  should  have  nothing  but  gruel  for 
two  or  three  days  ;  and,  after  that,  gruel  and  mashes  for  a  little  while 
longer.  In  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  the  wound  will  generally  be 
healed,  and  scarcely  a  trace  of  the  incision  will  be  visible. 

If  the  obstruction  be  not  observed,  or  the  piactitioner  not  called  in 
until  the  potato  or  parsnip  has  passed  into  that  portion  of  the  gullet 
which  is  within  the  thorax,  the  chances  of  saving  the  animal  are 
materially  diminished.  The  common  probang  should  first  be  tried, 
and,  that  failing,  the  corkscrew  should  be  resorted  to,  either  to  draw 
the  body  out,  or  so  to  pierce  it  and  break  it  down,  that  it  may  be 
forced  onward  either  by  the  stilett  or  the  knob.  The  practitioner 
should,  if  necessary,  use  all  the  force  he  can  ;  for,  if  the  obstruction 
be  not  overcome,  the  animal  will  assuredly  perish. 

It  has  often  been  observed,  and  with  much  truth,  that  cow^s,  in 
whose  gullet  this  obstiuction  has  once  taken  place,  are  subject  to  it 
afterwards.  Either  they  had  a  habit  of  voiacious  feeding,  or  the 
muscles  are  weakened  by  tliis  spasmodic  action,  and  not  able  to  con- 
tract upon  the  food  with  sufficient  force  for  the  ordinary  purposes  of 
deglutition.  It  will  therefoie  generally  be  prudent  to  part  with  the 
cow  that  has  once  suffei-ed  from  an  accident  of  this  kind. 

strictui;e  of  the  (esophagus. 

This  rarely  occurs  in  cattle.  The  writer  of  this  treatise  has  met 
with  only  one  marked  case  of  it.  The  food  occasionally  accumulated 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  gullet  until  there  was  a  swelhng  eight  or  ten 
inch-^s  in  length,  terminating  in  an  evident  contraction  of  the  oesopha- 
gus. He  passed  a  probang  through  the  stricture,  as  large  as,  without 
too  great  violence,  he  could  manage,  and  confined  it  there  for  an  hour. 


RUPTURE  OF  THE  OESOPHAGUS. 


by  means  of  tapes.  This  was  done  for  a  few  days,  when  a  larger 
probang  was  used.  The  food  accumulated  less  frequently,  and,  soon 
after,  ceased  to  accumulate  at  all. 


RUPTURE    OF    THE    OESOPHAGUS. 


In  cases  of  laceration,  or  rupture  of  the  gullet,  which  too  frequently 
follow  the  violent  attempts  of  unskillful  persons  to  force  down  the 
obstructing  body,  something  might  be  done  if  the  mischief  were 
immediately  ascertained.  Prudence,  however,  would  dictate  the 
sacrifice  of  the  animal,  while  it  could  be  fairly  sold  to  the  butcher. 


If  the  cure  be  undertaken,  the  part  must  be  opened- -the  foreign 
body  liberated  from  the  celhilar  texture  into  which  it  had  probably 
been  driven — all  tlie  dirt  and  indigested  matter  cleared  carefully 
away — the  ragged  and  lacerated  edges  cut  off — the  divided  portions 


286  CATTLE. 


brought  as  neatly  and  as  closely  together  as  possible — and  the  whole 
secured  by  bandages  passed  several  times  round  the  neck ;  while  the 
animal  is  allowed  giuel  only  for  many  days,  and  then  mashes.  The 
dressing  should  be  the  healing  ointment,  daily  applied.  The  power 
of  nature  is  great ;  and,  the  foreign  body  having  been  removed  before 
it  could  cause  inflammation  and  mortification  by  its  presence,  the 
parts  may  be  reinstated  to  every  useful  purpose. 

THE    CESOPHAGUS    WITHIN    THE    THORAX. 

As  the  oesophagus  approaches  the  chest,  it  takes  a  direction  more 
and  more  toward  the  left,  and  enters  it  on  that  side  of  the  windpipe. 
It  is  there  found  between  the  laminae  of  the  mediastinum,  following 
the  direction  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae.  It  passes  by  the  base  of  the 
heart,  leaving  the  venae  cavae  on  the  right,  and  the  aorta  on  tlie  left. 
It  by  degrees  separates  itself  from  the  spine,  penetrating  between 
the  lungs,  and,  pursuing  its  course  toward  the  diaphragm,  passes 
through  the  great  opening  between  the  crura  of  that  muscle.  As  it 
travels  through  the  mediastinum  and  between  the  lungs,  it  diminishes 
in  size,  and  acquires  considerable  firmness  of  texture ;  but  it  has  no 
sooner  entered  the  abdomen,  and  begun  to  dip  downward,  than  it 
becomes  more  muscular,  and  less  firm  in  its  structure.  It  also  rapidly 
increases  in  size  until  it  assumes  almost  the  shape  of  a  funnel ;  and 
terminates  directly  in  no  particular  stomach,  but  in  a  canal  which 
opens  into  all  the  stomachs,  of  which,  as  will  be  seen,  the  ruminant 
possesses  four. 

Recourse  must  be  had  to  a  few  cuts,  in  order  to  render  this  in- 
telligible to  the  reader. 

The  cut  in  the  preceding  page  will  exhibit  the  form  of  the  sto- 
machs when  filled,  their  relative  situations,  and  their  connection  with 
each  other. 

a.  The  oesophagus  gradually  enlarging  as  it  descends,  and  appa- 
rently running  into  the  rumen  or  paunch,  but,  in  fact,  terminatmg 
in  a  canal. 

h.  A  continuation  of  the  spiral  muscles  of  the  oesophagus,  thicker 
and  more  powerful  as  they  approach  the  termination  of  that  tube. 

Before  proceeding  to  the  consideration  of  the  other  parts  delinea- 
ted in  that  cut,  let  us  take  a  different  view  of  the  structure  and 
termination  of  the  gullet.      (See  cut  on  page  288.) 

a.  The  oesophagus,  enlarging  as  it  descends,  and  oecoming  more 
muscular,  and  particularly  the  upper  and  posterior  part  of  it.  The 
continuation  of  it  along  the  stomachs  is  slit  up,  in  order  to  show  that 
it  would  form  the  continuous  roof  of  the  canal  which  is  here  laid 
open,  and  which  leads  to  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs. 

h.  The  oesophagean  canal,  exposed  by  slitting  the  roof  from  the 
termination  of  tlie  gullet  to  the  third  stomach.  A  considerable  part 
of  the  floor  is  composed  of  two  muscular  pillars,  lying  close  to  each 


THE  CESOPHAGtJS  WITHIN  THE  THORAX. 


other.  It  would  therefore  appear,  at  first  inspection,  to  be  a  perfect 
canal,  and  that  what  descended  into  it  from  the  gullet  would  run 
on  to  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs.  These  pillars  are  duplicatures 
of  the  roof  of  the  first  and  second  stomachs,  which  lie  immediately 
underneath  them. 

c  is  the  continuation  of  the  same  canal  into  and  through  the 
manyplus,  or  third  stomach,  which  is  known  by  its  leaves  and  thin 
hooked  edges. 

c?  is  a  prolongation  of  the  same  canal  into  the  fourth,  or  true  di- 
gestive stomach.  It  is  easy  therefore  to  perceive  that  the  food, 
whether  solid  or  fluid,  may,  at  the  will  of  the  animal,  or  under  par- 
ticular circumstances  of  the  constitution,  pass  into  the  third  and 
fourth  stomachs,  without  a  particle  of  it  entering  into  the  first  or 
second  ;  and  we  know  that  this  is  the  case  Avith  the  food  after  it  has 
undergone  the  process  of  rumination,  or  a  second  mastication. 


The  following  cut  will  give  another  view  of  the  same  parts. 

a  is  again  the  oesophagus,  terminating  in  the  oesophagean  canal. 

h  is,  as  before,  the  oesophagean  canal ;  but  now,  at  the  will  of  the 
animal,  or  under  certain  states  of  the  constitution,  these  pillars  are  no 
longer  in  contact  with  each  other,  but  there  is  a  large  opening  at.  the 
bottom  of  the  oesophagus,  displaying  the  two  first  stomachs  lyino- 
under  them. 

c  is  the  rumen,  or  pairnch,  or  first  stomach,  placed  immediately 
under  the  termination  of  the  gullet,  and  substan:es  descendino-  that 
tube  fall  through  this  opening,  and  are  received  into  it.  All  the'food, 
when  first  swallowed,  goes  there,  to  be  preserved  for  the  act  of  rumi- 
nation ;  and  a  portion,  and  occasionally  the  greatest  portion,  of  the 
fluids  that  pass  down  the  gullet,  enters  the  rumen.     Farther  on,  at 

d,  is  the  reticulum,  or  second  stomach.  From  the  state  of  that 
stomach,  or  at  the  wil'  of  the  animal,  the  m.uscular  pillars  here  also 
relax,  seld(  m  or  nevei  to  permit  that  which  is  passing  alono-  the 
oesophagean  canal  to  enter  the  reticulum,  but  that  the  contents  of 
the  reticulum  may  be  thrown   into  the  oesophagean   canal.     This  is 


288 


CATTLE. 


the  case  when  the  pellet  of  food  is  returned  for  remastication — it  is 
thrown  into  the  canal  from  the  reticulum — it  is  seized  by  the  power- 
ful muscles  at  the  base  of  the  gullet,  and  carried  up  by  the  spiral 
muscles  of  that  tube  in  order  to  be  remasticated.  It  will  be  seen  the 
upper  pillar  (situated  towards  the  right  in  the  living  subject),  and 
the  lower  part  of  the  opening  made  by  the  relaxation  of  the  pillars, 
belong  to  the  reticulum  ;  the  lower  pillar  and  the  anterior  portion 
of  the  opening  (situated  towards  the  left)  belong  to  the  roof  of  the 
rumen.  This  is  veiy  satisfactorily  seen  in  the  dried  stomach  of  a 
young  calf. 


e  is  the  manyplus,  or  third  stomach,  and  through  which  the  canal 
is  still  to  \)e  traced  to 

b,  the  abomasum,  or  fourth,  or  true  digesting  stomach.  So  that, 
as  was  asserted,  this  canal  leads  to  no  particular  stomach  exclusively, 
but  to  all  of  them  according  to  circumstances. 

We  are  now,  perhaps,  prepared  to  return  to  the  consideration  of 
the  first  cut  (p.  285). 

c  c  represent  the  form  of  this  stomach  in  the  greater  part  of  rumi- 
nants, and  particularly  in  oxen  and  sheep.  It  is  situated  somewhat 
obliquely  in  the  abdominal  cavity,  and  occupies  nearly  three-fourths 
of  it.  It  is  divided  into  two  unequal  compartments,  or  sacs,  and 
reaches  from  the  diaphragm  to  tte  pelvic  cavity.  By  its  superior 
surface  it  is  attached  to  the  sublumbar  region  by  its  vessels,  nerves, 
and  a  portion  of  mesentery.  On  the  right  side  it  is  covered  by  a 
portion  of  the  intestines  ;  on  the  left  side  it  is  more  elevated,  and 
is  in  contact  with  the  left  flank.  It  is  on  this  account  that  we 
are  sometimes  induced  to  adopt  the  imsurgical  mode  of  giving  relief 
in  cases  of  hoove  ;  for  when  we  plunge  our  lancet  or  knife  into  the 


THE  EXTERIOR  OF  THE  ^TOMACIiS. 


left  flank,  we  puncture  the  distended  stomach.  Its  inferior  surface 
rests  upon  the  floor  of  the  belly.  The  left  side  reaches  to  the  dia- 
phragm, and  thence,  under  the  left  flank,  to  the  pelvis.  The  right 
side  rests  on  the  floor  of  the  abdomen,  and  is  covered  by  the  fourth 
stomach.  The  anterior  extremity  is  attached  to  the  diaphragm  by 
the  oesophagus,  and  by  the  cardiac  ligament ;  and  the  right  ex- 
tremity floats  free,  generally  occupying  the  pelvis,  but  pushed  thence 
m  the  latter  period  of  gestation. 

Deep  scissures  not  only  divide  it  into  two  lobes,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, but  another  scissure  posteriorly,  which  will  be  shown  in  the 
next  cut,  forms  it  into  two  others  ;  so  that  its  interior  presents  four 
compartments,  separated  from  each  by  deeply  projecting  duplica- 
tures  of  the  walls  of  the  stomach. 

This  cut  represents  two  of  the  three  coats  of  the  rumen. 

The  external,  or  peritoneal,  coat  is  here  represented  as  turned 
back  at  diff"erent  places,  in  order  to  show  the  muscular  coat,  which 
consists  of  two  layers,  the  one  running  longitudinally  and  the  other 
transversely  ;  yet  not  accurately  so,  for  they  appear  to  run  obliquely, 
^nd  in  many  difterent  directions,  according  to  the  varying  curvatures 
of  the  stomach.  A  very  erroneous  opinion  of  this  great  macerating 
stomach  would  be  formed  by  considering  it  as  a  mere  passive  reser- 
voir in  which  the  food  is  contained  until  it  is  wanted  for  rumination : 
it  is  in  constant  motion ;  the  food  is  perpetually  revolving  through 
its  different  compartments,  and  undergoing  important  preparation  for 
future  digestion.  These  muscles  are  the  mechanical  agents  by 
which  this  is  effected,  and  by  running  in  these  different  directions 
they  are  enabled  to  act  upon  all  the  differently  formed  cells  of  this 
enormous  viscus. 

d.  The  reticulum,  or  honey-cortih,  or  second  stomach,  viewed  ex- 
ternally, and  supposed  to  be  filled.  It  is  a  little  curved  upon  itself 
from  below  upward,  and  is  the  smallest  of  all  the  stomachs.  It  rests 
against  the  diaphragm  in  front  of  the  left  sac  of  the  rumen,  and  is 
placed  under  the  oesophagus,  and  upon  the  abdominal  prolongation 
of  the  sternum.  'Jhere  are  two  layers  of  muscles  belonging  to  this 
stomach,  one  of  them  running  longitudinally  and  the  other  trans- 
versely, as  in  the  rumen. 

e  gives  the  external  appearance  of  the  mnnyplus,  or  third  stomach. 
It  is  less  rounded,  and  longer  than  the  reticulum.  It  is  curved 
upon  itself  from  above  downward.  Its  little  curvature  is  applied 
on  the  left,  partly  over  the  reticulum,  and  more  on  the  paunch  ;  and 
on  the  right  it  is  placed  over  the  base  of  the  fourth  stomach. 
It  is  situated  obliquely  from  the  right  side  of  the  abdomen,  be- 
tween the  liver  and  the  right  sac  of  the  rumen.  Girard  thus  de- 
scribes it : — "  ^ts  anterior  face  rests  against  the  liver  and  the  dia- 
phragm— its  posterior  is  placed  over  the  right  sac  of  the  rumen. 
Its  great,  rounded,  convex  curvature  is  attached  to  the  fourth 
13 


290  CATTLE. 


stom^ich,  and  also  to  the  rumen,  by   a  prolongation  of  mesentery  ; 
and  'ts  little  curvature  is  continuous  -with  that  of  the  reticulum." 

Figs.  1  and  2  represent  the  two  hn-ers  of  muscles,  as  before. 
/  The  ahomasum,  or  fourth  stomach,  is  elongated,  and  of  a  cone- 
like form,  yet  somewhat  bent  into  an  arch,  situated  obliquely  to  the 
right  of  and  behind  the  manyplus,  and  between  the  diaphragm  and 
the  right  sac  of  the  rumen.  It  has  two  free  or  unattached  faces,  one 
against  the  diaphragm  and  the  other  against  the  right  sac  of  the 
rumen — two  curvatures,  the  inferior  and  larger  convex,  and  giving 
attachment  along  its  inner  border  to  a  portion  of  mesentery,  which 
extends  to  the  inferior  scissures  of  the  rumen  ;  and  the  superior  or 
smaller,  receiving  the  portions  of  mesentery  which  go  from  the  reti- 
culum to  the  superior  scissures  of  the  rumen.  It  is  also  said  to  have 
two  extremities,  the  one  anterior,  which  is  the  larger,  and  placed 
inferiorl}'-,  adhering  to  the  smaller  curvature  of  the  manyplus,  and 
constituting  the  base,  or  great  extremity  of  the  abomasum  ;  and  the 
posterior  and  superior,  which  is  narrow,  elongated,  curved  above  and 
backward  on  the  superior  face  of  the  right  sac  of  the  rumen,  and 
called  the  smaller  or  pyloric  extremity. 

A  dissection  of  the  muscular  coat  is  given  here,  as  in  the  other 
stomachs. 

g  represents  the  commencement  of  the  duodenum,  or  first  intestine. 

The  reader  is  now  prepared  for  the  consideration  of  the  interior  of 
these  stomachs. 

a.  The  oesojyhagus,  as  before,  enlarging,  and  assuming  a  funnel- 
like shape  as  it  approaches  the  stomachs. 

h.  The  cesophag^is,  cut  open  at  the  commencement  of  the  cesopka- 
gean  canal,  in  order  to  show  its  communi-cation  with  the  first  and 
second  stomachs. 

c.  The  rumen,  laid  open  and  divided  into  its  different  compart- 
ments by  scissures,  more  or  less  deep,  and  which  on  the  internal 
surface  appear  as  indentations,  or  duplicatures  of  the  coats  of  the 
stomach.  They  are  recognized  imder  the  name  of  the  double-ti-ipe 
when  prepared  for  the  table.  The  rumen  is  divided  into  two  large 
sacs,  seen  in  the  cut  of  the  external  form  of  the  stomachs  (p.  285,) 
and  the  walls  that  separate  them  are  thick,  and  perpendicular  to 
the  surface  of  the  stomach,  so  as  to  form  a  very  considerable  separa- 
tion between  the  compartments  of  the  stomach.  These  again  are 
subdivided  by  transversal  bands,  which  form  smaller  compaitments. 
Two,  belonging  to  the  posterior  portion  of  the  stomach,  are  given  in 
this  cut.  Tliere  are  similar  divisions  in  the  anterior  sac,  but  which 
are  here  concealed  by  one  of  the  folds  of  the  stoma?,h. 

The  whole  of  the  rumen  is  covered  by  a  cuticular  membrane,  con- 
stituting the  third  or  inner  coat.  Immediately  under  this,  and  aiising 
from  the  interposed  tissue  between  the  muscular  and  cuticular  coats, 
there  are  innumerable  small  prominences  or  papillae.     They  are  of 


THE  EXTERIOR  OF  THE  STOMACHS. 


291 

different  sizes  and  forms  in  different  parts  of  the  rumen.  Toward  the 
longitudmal  bands  or  duplicatures  thev  are  small,  and  thinlv  set  • 
they  are  more  numerous  and  larger  toWard  the  centre  of  the  com- 
partments ;  and  largest  of  all  in  the  bottom  of  the  posterior  and  most 
capacious  sac  In  every  part  of  the  rumen  they  are  more  thickly 
set,  and  broad  and  strong  toward  the  centre  or  bottom  of  each  com"- 
partment.  Ihey  are  also  harder  and  blacker  in  these  places  When 
regarded  m  different  compartments,  they  appear  to  be  bent  or  inclined 


hev^r.ll  .^'7^^-^"^  >^  but  when  they  are  more  closely  examined, 
t/it     ""  ^:^,^^^^^^.^^  '\^.  direction  which  the  food  takes  in  its  pass- 

er^oiul  ^^^  ''''''^'  ^''T""'  "^  '^'^  ^"^^"-  '^^^^y  ^'^  evidently 
food  whn^  may  sometimes  bristle  up  and  ^pose  the  passage  of  the 
food  ,  while  at  other  times  they  yield  and  bend,  and  suffer  it  to  pass 

Tlnn^  V'^-'"'' ''h^T'^^"'  ^"""^^  ^-^'^^  i^^gi^^d  that  these  are 
glandular  bodies,  and  that  they  secrete  a  peculfar  fluid  ;  others  con- 
bne  the  glandular  apparatus  to  the  tissue  between  the  cuticular  coat ; 


292  CAfTLE. 


and  numerous  little  prominences,  which  can  be  seen  in  the  inflated 
stomach  of  a  young  ruminant  wlien  exposed  to  the  light,  are  best 
accounted  for  by  considering  them  as  glandular  bodies. 

There  are  two  openings  into  the  rumen  ;  the  one  already  spoken  of, 
at  the  base  of  the  oesophagus,  and  through  which  the  substances 
gathered  at  the  first  cropping  of  the  food,  and  perhaps  all  solids,  fall, 
and  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  liquids  are  swallowed.  The  other 
opening  is  below  this.  It  is  larger  and  alwaj's  open  ;  it  communicates 
with  the  second  stomach  ;  but  there  is  a  semilunar  fold  of  the  rumen, 
that  runs  obliquely  across  it,  and  acts  as  a  valve,  so  that  nothing  can 
pass  from  the  first  into  the  second  stomach,  except  by  some  forcible 
effort ;  and  it  is  very  seldom  that  anything  is  returned  from  the 
rumen  directly  into  the  oesophagus. 

Considering  the  size  of  the  paunch,  it  has  very  few  blood-vessels  ; 
in  fact,  it  has  not  much  to  do  except  macerating  the  food.  The 
arteries  are  supplied  by  the  splenics,  which  are  of  very  great  size  in 
ruminants.     The  nerves  are  given  out  by  the  coeliac  plexus. 

d.  'ihe  reticulum,  or  second  stomach.  The  cuticular  coat  here 
covers  a  very  irregular  surface,  consisting  of  cells,  shallower  and 
wider  than  those  of  a  honey-comb,  but  very  much  resembling  them  ; 
hence  this  stomach  is  sometimes  called  the  honey-comh.  Each  of 
these  divisions  contains  several  smaller  ones ;  and  at  the  base  and 
along  the  sides  of  each  are  found  numerous  minute  prominences,  or 
papillae,  which  are  evidently  secreting  glands. 

There  are  two  openings  into  the  stomach  ;  one  through  the  floor 
of  the  oesophagean  canal,  one  of  the  pillars  of  which  is  formed  of  a 
duplicature  of  the  coats  of  the  lesser  curvature  of  the  reticulum. 
The  other  is  that  already  described,  between  this  stomach  and  the 
rumen. 

The  muscular  coat  of  this  stomach  is  thick  and  powerful,  but  the 
blood-vessels  are  not  numerous,  for  it  w.T  hereafter  appear  that  its 
functions  are  very  simple.  The  arteries  and  nerves  of  the  reticulum 
are  derived  fi  om  the  same  source  as  those  of  the  rumen. 

€.  The  rnonyplus,  or  third  stomach.  The  internal  structure  of  this 
stomach  is  very  singular.  The  oesophagean  canal  changes  its  form 
and  character  at  the  commencement  of  the  manyplus  ;  and  the  fleshy 
pillars,  of  which  mention  has  been  so  often  made,  unite,  forming  a 
kind  of  obtuse  angle.  The  floor  of  the  canal  is  now  perfect,  and 
nothing  can  any  longer  fall  into  the  stomachs  beneath.  A  small 
circular  aperture  alone  is  left  between  them,  which  conducts  to  the 
third  stomach,  the  floor  of  which  is  closed,  but  the  roof  is  constructed 
in  a  remarkable  way.  'Wie  whole  of  the  stomach  contributes  to  form 
this  roof;  and  from  it  there  descend  numerous  duplicatures  of  the 
cuticular  coat,  each  duplicature  containing  within  it  cellular  tissue, 
blood-vessels,  and  a  thin  but  powerful  layer  of  muscles.  They  are 
formed  into  groups.     A  long  duplicature,  resembling  a  leaf  or  cur- 


THE  EXTERIOR  OF  THE  STOMACHS.  293 


tain,  hangs  from  the  roof,  and  floats  free  in  the  stomach,  and  reaches 
nearl)'  down  to  the  floor.  On  either  side  of  it  is  a  shorter  leaf,  and 
beyond  tliat  a  shorter  still,  until  the  outer  leaf  becomes  very  narrow. 
Tiien  commences  another  group,  with  a  long  leaf  in  the  centre,  and 
others  progressively  shortening  on  each  side,  until  the  stomach  is 
filled  with  these  leaves,  hanging  down  from  every  part  of  it,  floating 
loosely  about,  and  the  lower  edge  of  the  longest  of  them  reaching 
into  the  continuation  of  the  cesophagean  canal. 

The  cuticular  covering  of  these  leaves  is  peculiarly  dense  and 
strong,  and  thickly  studded  with  little  prominences ;  so  that  when 
the  leaf  is  examined  it  exhibits  a  file-like  hardness,  that  would  scarcely 
be  thought  possible  ;  and  it  is  evidently  capable  of  acting  like  a  file, 
or  little  grindstone.  These  prominences  are  larger  and  harder 
toward  the  lower  part  of  the  leaf;  and,  in  the  central  leaves,  assume 
the  form  and  office  of  little  crotchets,  or  hooks,  some  of  which  have 
the  hardness  of  horn,  so  that  nothing  soHd  or  fibrous  can  escape 
them. 

These  groups  of  leaves  vary  in  number  in  diff'erent  animals,  and  the 
number  of  leaves  constituting  each  group  vary  too.  They  float 
thickest,  and  the  canal  is  smallest,  at  the  entrance  into  this  stomach, 
where  they  are  most  wanted.  Toward  the  fourth  stomach  the  course 
is  left  more  open. 

As  would  be  expected,  from  the  complicated  mechanism  of  this 
stomach,  it  is  more  abundantly  supplied  with  blood-vessels  and  with 
nerves  than  the  second,  or  even  than  the  first,  although  that  is  many 
times  larger  than  the  third. 

f.  The  abomasum,  or  fourtlv  stomach,  is  lined  by  a  soft  villous  mem- 
brane, like  the  digestive  portion  of  ordinary  stomachs.  It  also 
contains  a  great  number  of  folds,  or  leaves,  somewhat  irregularly 
placed,  but  running  chiefly  longitudinally.  They  are  largest  and  most 
numerous  at  the  upper  and  wider  part  of  the  stomach  ;  and  one  of  the 
folds,  in  particular,  is  placed  at  the  entrance  into  the  abomasum,  yield- 
ing to  the  substances  which  pass  from  the  third  stomach  into  the  fourth, 
and  leaving,  as  it  were,  a  free  and  open  way,  but  opposing  an  almost 
perfect  valvular  obstruction  to  their  return.  This  explains  the  reason 
why  vomiting  is  so  rare  in  the  ruminant ;  and  that  when  it  does 
occur,  it  must  be  produced  by  such  violent  spasmodic  eff"orts  as  to 
cause  or  indicate  the  approach  of  death.     See  g  and  h.  p.  288. 

Toward  the  lower  and  narrower  part  of  the  stomach  these  folds 
are  less  numerous  and  of  smaller  size  :  they  are  also  more  irregular 
in  the  course  which  they  take  ;  some  of  them  running  obliquely  and 
even  transversely.  This  coat  of  the  stomach,  when  the  animal  is  in 
health,  is  thickly  covered  with  mucus,  while,  from  innumerable  glands, 
it  secretes  the  gastric  juice,  or  true  digestive  fluid. 

The  pyloric  or  lower  orifice  of  this  stomach  is  guarded  by  a  rounded 
projecting  thick  substance,  by  which  the  entrance  into  the  intestine 


®4  CATTLE. 

is  much  contracted,  and  which,  indeed,  partly  discharges  the  function 
of  a  sphincter  muscle. 

^    is  a  portion  of  the  duodenum,  or  first  intestine. 

h.  The  place  -where  the  biliary  and  pancreatic  ducts  enter  the 
duodenum. 

i.  A  stilett  is  here  supposed  to  be  passed  through  that  portion  of 
the  oesophagean  canal  (the  very  beginning  of  it)  through  which  the 
gullet  communicates  with  the  paunch. 

k.  A  stilett  is  here  supposed  to  run  through  that  part  of  tht, 
canal  by  means  of  which  the  gullet  communicates  with  the  second 
stomach, 

I.  A  stilett  here  passes  below  the  last,  and  under  the  oesophagean 
canal,  showing  the  situation  of  the  direct  communication  between  the 
rumen  and  the  reticulum. 

m.  The  supposed  direction  of  the  oesophagean  canal  to  the  third 
stomach,  over  the  roofs  of  the  paunch  and  the  second  stomach. 

n.  Its  passage  through  the  third  stomach,  and  entrance  into  the 
fourth. 

THE    CHANGES    OF    THE    FOOD    IN    THE    DIFFERENT    STOMACHS. 

The  OX  rapidly  and  somewhat  greedily  crops  the  herbage,  which 
undergoes  little  or  no  mastication,  but  being  rolled  into  a  pellet,  and 
as  it  passes  along  the  pharynx  being  somewhat  enveloped  by  the 
mucus  there  secreted,  is  swallowed.  The  pellet,  being  hard  and 
rapidly  driven  along  by  the  action  of  the  muscles  of  the  oesophagus-, 
falls  upon  the  anterior  portion  of  the  oesoph  igean  canal,  and  its 
curiously  formed  floor  ;  and  either  by  the  force  with  which  it  strikes 
on  these  pillars,  or  by  some  instinctive  influence,  they  are  separated, 
and  the  pellet  falls  into  the  rumen,  which  is  found  immediately  under 
the  base  of  the  gullet,  as  represented  at  c,  p.  288,  and  /,  p.  291. 
The  food,  however,  which  thus  enters  the  rumen  does  not  remain 
stationary  in  the  place  where  it  falls.  It  has  been  seen  that  the  walls 
of  this  stomach  are  supplied  with  muscles  of  considerable  power,  and 
which  run  longitudinally  and  transversely,  and  in  various  directions 
all  over  it,  and  by  means  of  them  the  contents  of  the  paunch  are 
gradually  conveyed  through  all  its  compartments.  At  first  the  food 
travels  with  comparative  rapidity,  for  the  muscles  of  the  stomach  act 
strongly,  and  the  papillae  with  which  it  is  lined  easily  yield  and  suffer 
it  to  pass  on  ;  but,  the  rumen  being  filled,  or  the  animal  ceasing  to 
graze,  the  progress  of  the  food  is  retarded.  The  muscles  act  with  less 
power,  and  the  contents  of  the  stomach  with  greater  difficulty  find 
their  way  over  the  partitions  of  the  different  sacs,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  probably,  the  papillae  exert  their  erectile  power,  and  oppose  a 
new  obstacle. 

If  a  considerable  opening  b"  'ut  into  the  flank;  immediately  over  the 


THE  CHANGES  OF  FOOD  IN  THE  STOMACHS. 


paunch,  a  swinging  or  balancing  motion  of  that  stomach,  both  up- 
ward and  downward  and  forward  and  backward,  may  be  plainly 
Been. 

The  uses  of  the  papillae  seem  to  be  various ;  they  support  the 
weight  of  the  superincumbent  food,  unmasticated,  and  liable  to  injure 
the  coat  of  the  stomach,  over  which  it  is  continually  moving  ;  they 
take  away  from  the  foUicular  glands  of  the  stomach  that  pressure 
which  would  render  it  impossible  for  these  glands  to  discharge  that 
mucous  lubricating  fluid  which  is  requisite  for  the  protection  of  the 
stomach  and  the  revolution  of  the  food.  The  papillae  are  conse- 
quently more  numerous  and  larger  and  stronger  at  the  centre  or 
bottom  of  each  of  the  compartments  where  the  food  would  accumu- 
late and  press  most ;  and  they  are  more  thinly  scattered,  and  in  some 
places  almost  disappear,  where  there  is  no  danger  from  tlie  pressure 
of  the  friction.  In  addition  to  all  these,  are  the  important  functions 
of  yielding  and  suffering  the  food  to  pass  unimpeded  along,  while  tlie 
stoma*ch  is  rapidly  filling  as  tlie  animal  grazes,  and  then  by  their 
erectile  power  retarding  that  progress  when  the  beast  has  ceased  to 
eat,  and  the  slow  process  of  rumination  has  commenced.  The  glandu- 
lar bodies,  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  are  most  plentifully 
situated,  and  are  of  largest  size,  on  the  upper  part  of  the  sides  of  the 
rumen,  where  they  are  least  exposed  to  pressure,  and  may  discliargc 
the  lubricating  mucus  which  they  secrete,  without  obstacle. 

The  only  change  that  takes  place  in  the  food  in  a  healthy  state 
and  action  of  this  stomach  is  that  of  maceration,  and  preparation  for 
the  second  mastication,  as  may  be  easily  proved  by  taking  from  the 
mouth  of  a  cow  a  pellet  that  has  been  returned  for  rumination,  and 
which  will  be  found  to  be  merely  the  grass,  or  other  food,  no  other- 
wise altered  than  being  softened,  and  covered  with  a  portion  of 
mucus.  The  fluid  which  the  rumen  contains  is  not  secieted  there, 
but  whenever  the  animal  di'inks,  a  portion  of  the  water  breaks  through 
the  pillars  of  the  oesophagean  canal,  regulated  in  quantity  either  by 
the  will  of  the  beast  or  by  the  sympathy  of  the  parts  with  the  state 
and  wants  of  the  stomach,  or  with  the  state  of  the  constitution 
generally.  The  rumen  of  a  healthy  ox  always  contains  a  considerable 
quantity  of  fluid. 

The  food,  having  traversed  all  the  compartments  of  this  stomach, 
would  arrive  again  at  the  point  from  Avhich  it  started,  were  it  not  that 
a  fold  of  the  rumen  arrests  its  course,  and  gives  it  a  somewhat 
difi"erent  direction.  This  fold  is  placed  at  the  spot  where  there  exists 
a  communication  between  the  rumen  and  the  reticulum,  and  which 
also  is  guarded  by  a  fold  or  valve  ;  but  the  peristaltic  motion  of  the 
stomach  going  on,  and  the  food  pressing  from  behind,  a  portion  of  it 
is  at  length,  by  a  convulsive  action,  partly  voluntary  and  partly 
involuntary,  thrown  over  this  fold  into  the  reticulum. 

The  inner  coat  of  the  reticulum,   or  second  stomach,  has  been 


296  CATTLE. 


described  as  divided  into  numerous  honeycomb-formed  cells  (they  are 
well  represented  at  d,  p.  291,)  at  the  base  of  each  of  which  are  nu- 
merous small  secretory  glands,  which  also  furnish  a  considerable 
quantity  of  mucus.  The  action  of  this  stomach  consists  in  first  con- 
tracting upon  its  contents  ;  and,  in  doing  this,  it  forms  the  portion 
just  received  from  the  rumen  into  the  proper  shape  for  its  return  up 
the  oesophagus,  and  covers  it  more  completely  with  mucus  ;  then,  by 
a  stronger  and  somewhat  spasmodic  action,  it  forces  the  pellet  between 
the  pillars  at  the  floor  of  the  oesophagean  carJfil,  where  it  is  seized  by 
the  muscles,  that  are  so  powerful  at  the  base  of  the  oesophagus,  and 
which  extend  over  this  part  of  the  canal,  and  is  conveyed  to  the 
mouth.  The  reticulum,  expanding  again,  receives  a  new  portion  of 
food  from  the  rumen,  and  which  had  been  forced  over  the  valve  by 
the  convulsive  action  of  that  viscus. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  the  manner  in  whicli  these  acts  are  per- 
formed. The  cow,  if  lying,  is  generally  found  on  her  right  side,  in 
order  that  the  intestines,  which  are  principally  lodged  on  that  side, 
may  not  press  upon  and  interfere  with  the  action  of  the  rumen. 
After  a  pellet  that  has  undergone  the  process  of  rumination  is  swal- 
lowed, there  is  a  pause  of  two  or  three  seconds,  during  which  the 
cow  is  making  a  slow  and  deep  inspiration.  By  means  of  this  the 
lungs  are  inflated  and  press  on  the  diaphragm  ;  and  the  diaphragm 
in  its  turn  presses  on  both  the  rumen  and  the  reticulum,  and  assists 
their  action.  Suddenly  the  inspiration  is  cut  short  by  an  evident 
spasm  ;  it  is  the  forcible  ejection  of  the  pellet  from  the  reticulum,  and 
of  a  fresh  quantity  of  food  over  the  valvular  fold,  to  enter  the  reticulum 
as  soon  as  it  expands  again.  This  spasmodic  action  is  immediately 
followed  by  the  evident  passage  of  the  ball  up  the  oesophagus  to  the 
mouth.  The  spiral  muscles  of  the  oesophagus,  with  their  fibres  inter- 
lacing each  other,  are  admirably  suited  to  assist  the  ascent  as  well 
as  the  descent  of  the  pellet  of  food. 

THE  DIFFICULTY    OF  PURGING    CATTLE. 

This  account  of  the  construction  and  function  of  the  rumen  will 
throw  considerable  light  on  some  circumstances  not  a  little  annoying 
to  the  practitioner.  It  has  been  stated  that  a  portion  of  the  fluid 
swallowed  usually  enters  the  rumen,  and  that  the  quantity  which  ac- 
tually enters  it  depends  a  little  perhaps  on  the  will  of  the  animal, 
more  on  the  manner  in  which  the  fluid  was  administered,  but  most 
of  all  on  some  state  of  the  constitution  over  which  we  have  no  control. 
Accordingly  it  happens,  and  not  unfrequently,  and  particularly  under 
some  diseases  of  an  inflammatory  nature,  and  in  which  physic  is  ira- 
'peratively  required,  that  although  it  is  administered  in  a  liquid  form 
and  as  gently  as  possible,  the  greater  part  or  the  whole  of  it  enters 
the  rumen,  and  remains  there  totally  inert.  Dose  after  dose  is  ad- 
ministered, until  the  practitioner  is  tired,  or  afraid  to  give  more  ;  and, 


THE  DIFFICULTY  OF  PURGING  CATTLE.  297 

ignorant  of  the  anatomy  and  function^  of  the  stomachs,  he  wonders 
at  the  obstinate  constipation  which  seems  to  bid  defiance  to  all  pur- 
gative medicines  ;  whereas,  in  fact,  little  or  none  of  it  had  entered 
the  intestinal  canal.  At  length,  perhaps,  the  rumen  is  excited  to 
action,  and  ejects  a  considerable  portion  of  its  liquid,  and  some  of  its 
more  solid  contents,  either  directly  into  the  oesophagean  canal,  or 
through  the  medium  of  the  reticulum  ;  and  which,  by  an  inverted 
and  forcible  contraction,  is  driven  through  the  manyplus  and  into  the 
fourth  stomach,  and  thence  into  the  intestinal  canal,  and  produces 
sometimes  natural,  but  at  other  times  excessive  and  unmanageable 
and  fatal  purgation.  The  great  quantity  of  fibrous  substance 
which  occasionally  is  found  in  the  dung,  warns  us  that  this  has  taken 
place. 

Occasionally,  when  dose  after  dose  has  been  given,  and  the  animal 
dies  apparently  constipated,  the  whole  of  the  physic  is  found  in  the 
rumen.  These  are  difiiculties  in  cattle  practice  which  are  not  yet 
sufiiciently  understood. 

When  two  or  three  moderate  doses  have  been  given,  and  purgincr 
is  not  produced,  the  practitioner  may  begin  to  suspect  that  his  medi- 
cine has  fallen  through  this  oesophagean  fissure  into  the  rumen  ;  and 
then,  although  he  does  not  quite  discontinue  the  physic,  he  should 
principally  endeavor  to  stimulate  this  cuticular,  yet  not  quite  insensi- 
ble stomach.  He  should  lessen  the  quantity  of  the  purgative,  and 
he  should  double  or  treble  that  of  the  aromatic  and  stimulant ;  and, 
in  many  cases,  he  will  thus  succeed  in  producing  an  intestinal  evacua- 
tion, the  fibrous  nature  of  which  will  prove  the  unnatural  pi'ocess  by 
which  it  was  effected. 

It  was,  perhaps,  from  observation  of  the  occasional  benefit  derived 
from  the  administration  of  aroraatics  and  stimulants,  even  in  inflam- 
matory cases,  that  the  absurd  and  mischievous  practice  of  giving 
them  in  every  disease,  and  every  state  of  disease,  arose. 

The  reason  and  the  propriety  of  the  administration  of  cattle- 
medicine  in  a  liquid  form  is  hence  evident.  A  ball,  in  consequence 
of  its  weight,  and  the  forcible  manner  in  which  it  is  urged  on  by  the 
muscles  of  the  cesophagus,  breaks  through  the  floor  of  the  oesopha- 
gean canal,  and  enters  the  rumen,  and  is  lost.  A  liquid,  administered 
slowly  and  carefully,  and  trickling  down  the  cesophagus  without  the 
possibihty  of  the  muscles  of  that  tube  acting  upon  it  and  increasing 
its  momentum,  is  likel}^  to  glide  over  this  singular  floor,  and  enter 
the  fourth  stomach  and  the  intestines.  A  hint  may  hence  be  derived 
with  regard  to  the  manner  of  administering  a  drink.  If  it  be  poured 
down  bodily  from  a  large  vessel,  as  is  generally  done,  it  will  probably 
fall  on  the  canal  with  sufficient  force  partly,  at  least,  to  separate  the 
pillars,  and  a  portion  of  it  Avill  enter  the  rumen  and  be  useless. 

In  the  calf,  fed  entirely  on  its  mother's  milk,  the  rumen  is  in  a 
mamiei  useless,  for  all  the  food  goes  on  to  the  fourth  stomach.  It 
13* 


•298  CATTLE. 


is  of  a  liquid  form,  and  it  is  swallowed  in  small  quantities,  and  with 
little  force  at  each  act  of  deglutition.  'J'he  instinctive  closure  of  the 
pillars — an  act  of  organic  life — (because  the  milk  if  suffered  to  fall 
mto  the  rumen  would  be  lost,  or  would  undergo  dangerous  changes 
there) — has  far  more  to  do  with  the  direction  of  the  fluid  than  any 
mechanical  eff'ect  resulting  from  the  form  of  the  aliment,  or  the  force 
with  which  it  descended  the  gullet.  Tt  is  curious  to  observe  the 
comparatively  diminutive  size  of  the  rumen,  and  the  development  of 
the  abomasum  or  digesting  stomach  in  the  foetal  calf. 

THE  SUBJECT  OF  Ri  MINATIOK,  AND  THE  CHANGES  OF  THE  FOOD  RESUMED. 

The  food,  being  returned  from  the  reticulum  to  the  mouth,  is  there 
subjected  to  a  second  mastication,  generally  very  leisurely  performed, 
and  which  is  continued  until  enough  is  ground  not  only  to  satisfy 
the  cravings  of  hunger,  but  to  fill  the  comparatively  small  true  sto- 
mach and  intestine  of  the  animal ;  who  then,  if  he  is  undisturbed, 
usually  falls  asleep.  The  act  of  rumination  is  accompanied,  or 
closely  followed,  by  that  of  digestion,  and  requires  a  considerable 
concentration  of  vital  power;  and  hence  the  appearance  of  tran- 
quillity and  sleepy  pleasure  which  the  countenance  of  the  beast  pre- 
sents. The  rumen  is  rarely  or  never  emptied  ;  and  probably  the 
food  that  is  returned  for  rumination  is  that  which  has  been  macera- 
ting in  the  stomach  during  many  hours.  The  process  of  rumina- 
tion is  very  easily  inteiTupted. 

The  portion  of  food  having  been  sufiiciently  comminuted,  is  at 
length  swallowed  a  second  time  ;  and  then,  either  being  of  a  softer 
consistence,  or  not  being  so  violently  driven  down  the  gullet,  or,  by 
some  instinctive  influence,  it  passes  over  the  floor  of  the  canal,  with- 
out separating  the  pillars,  and  enters  the  manyplus,  or  third  stomach. 
This  is  represented  at  h,  p.  287,  and  m,  p.  291. 

The  manyplus  presents  an  admirable  provision  for  that  perfect 
comminution  of  the  food  which  is  requisite  in  an  animal  destined  to 
supply  us  with  nutriment  both  when  living  and  when  dead.  That 
which  is  quite  ground  down  is  permitted  to  pass  on  ;  but  the  leaves, 
that  have  been  described  as  hanging  from  the  roof,  and  floating  close 
over  the  cesi>phagean  canal,  and  armed  with  numerous  hook-formed 
papillae,  seize  upon  every  particle  of  fibre  that  remains,  and  draw  it 
up  between  them,  and  file  it  down  by  means  of  the  hard  prominences 
on  their  surfaces,  and  suffer  it  not  to  escape  until  it  is  reduced  to  a 
pulpy  mass. 

These  three  stomachs,  then,  are  evidently  designed  for  the  prepa- 
ration and  comminution  of  the  food  before  it  enters  the  fourth  sto- 
mach, in  which  the  process  of  digestion  may  be  said  to  commence, 
and  where  the  food,  already  softened,  is  converted  into  a  fluid  called 
chyme.     The  i  Ulcus  coat  of  the  abomasum  abounds  with  small  folli- 


CONCRETIONS,  OR  STONES  IN  THE  RUMEN.  29S 

cular  glands,  whence  is  secreted  a  liquid  called  the  gastric  juice,  and 
which  is  the  agent  in  producing  this  chyme.  The  change,  in  all 
probability,  merely  consists  in  the  food  being  more  perfectly  dissolved, 
and  converted  in'io  a  semi-fluid  homogeneous  mass.  This  form  it 
must  of  necessity  assume  before  its  nutritive  matter  can  be  sepa- 
rated. The  solution  being  complete,  or  as  much  so  as  it  can  be 
rendered,  the  food  passes  through  the  pyloric,  or  lower  orifice  of  the 
stomach,  into  the  duodenum,  or  first  intestine,  (g,  p.  291,)  where  its 
separation  into  the  nutritive  and  innutritive  portions  is  effected,  and 
the  former  begins  to  be  taken  up,  and  carried  into  the  system. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  enter  into  the  consideration  of  the  diseases 
of  this  complicated  apparatus,  diseases  of  the  rumen  or  paunch. 

SWALLOWING  IXDIGESTIBLE  SUBSTANCES. 

Cattle  have  been  known  to  swallow  cloths,  scissors,  shoes,  sticks, 
leather,  indeed  all  sorts  of  things  that  could  p;iss  the  throat. 

The  presence  of  bodies  like  these  in  the  rumen  cannot  fail  of  being 
injurious  to  the  animal.  They  must  produce  local  irritation,  interfer- 
ing with  the  proper  function  of  this  stomach  ;  suspending  the  pro- 
cess of  rumination,  or  rendering  it  less  effectually  performed ;  and 
exciting  inflammation,  probably  of  the  stomach  generally,  as  this 
foreign  body  is  traversing  its  different  compartments,  or  of  some  par- 
ticular portion  in  which  it  may  be  accidentally  arrested,  and  leading 
on  to  abscess  and  perforation  of  the  stomach  at  that  spot.  The 
symptoms  which  would  indicate  this  peculiar  cause  of  disease  are 
not  yet  sufiicientjy  known  ;  but  there  must  be  considerable  disturb- 
ance when  a  body  sufficiently  hard  and  pointed  thus  to  force  its  way 
commences  its  journey.  Inflammation,  as  conducting  to  suppuration 
and  destruction  of  the  living  substance,  must  precede  its  course  and 
make  way  for  it.  The  nerves  and  blood-vessels  which  lie  in  its  way 
are,  with  mysterious  skill,  unerringly  avoided,  and  as  httle  injury  as 
possible  is  done  to  the  neighboring  tissues  ;  but  local  inflammation 
and  pain  attend  the  whole  process,  which,  in  many  cases,  are  accom- 
panied by  general  and  severe  disease. 

It  is  seldom  that  medical  skill  could  be  of  avail  here,  until  the 
substance  approaches  to  the  skin,  even  if  the  case  were  understood. 

CONCRETIONS,  OR  STONES  IN  THE   RUMEN. 

A  frequent  and  serious  complaint  is  the  formation  of  various  con- 
cretions in  the  rumen.  They  are  generally  round,  but  occasionally 
of  various  forms,  and  var^'ing  likewise  in  weight  from  a  few  ounces 
to  six  or  seven  pounds.  The  composition  of  these  balls  is  also  very 
difterent.  Those  which  are  decidedly  peculiar  to  cattle  are  composed 
entirely  of  hair,  matted  together  by  the  mucous  secretion  from  the 
follicular  glands  of  the  stomach.     Sometinigs  they  have  no  distinct 


800  CATTLE. 


central  body  ;  at  otlir^  limes  it  exists  in  the  form  of  a  Lit  of  straw 
or  wood,  or  frequently  of  stone  or  iron.  They  exist  in  the  rumen, 
and  in  the  abomasum.  In  the  abomasum  they  are  composed  exclu- 
sively of  hair,  irregularly  matted  and  held  together  by  the  mucus  of 
the  stomach  ;  in  the  rumen  there  is  generally  a  mixture  of  food,  or 
earthy  matter,  in  the  composition  of  the  concretion.  When  simple 
food  mingles  with  the  hair,  the  ball  seems  to  be  formed  by  a  succes- 
sion of  concentric  layers,  and  is  the  centre  is  a  bit  of  nail  or  stone  ; 
or,  if  the  beasts  have  access  to  running  water,  a  piece  of  shell  often 
constitutes  the  nucleus. 

The  hair  is  obtained  by  the  habit  which  cattle,  and  even  very 
young  calves,  have,  of  licking  eacl  other.  A  considerable  quantity 
of  hair  is  loosened  and  removed  by  the  rough  tongues  of  these  animals, 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  swallowed  ;  and  there  seems  to  be  a  kind 
of  power  in  the  stomach  to  separate  these  indigestible  matters  from 
the  other  substances  which  it  contains.  It  is  also  easy  to  imagine 
that  the  hairs  which  the  manyplus,  with  all  its  grinding  power,  can- 
not rub  down,  will  collect  tooether  when  floating  in  the  semi-fluid 
contents  of  the  fourth  stomach,  and  gradually  accumulate  in  con- 
siderable and  hard  masses.  These  balls  will  begin  to  form  at  a  very 
early  age  of  the  animal. 

When  only  a  little  hair  enters  into  the  formation  of  these  calculi, 
they  are  usually  made  up  of  earthy  matter,  with  bits  of  hay,  straw, 
or  other  food,  glued  together  by  the  mucus  of  the  stomach.  These 
have  uniformly  a  hard  central  nucleus,  generally  metallic.  The 
concentric  layers  can  here  also  be  traced,  but  they  are,  occasionally, 
somewhat  confused. 

In  some  cases,  various  compounds  of  lime,  and  still  more  of  silicious 
matter,  can  be  detected  by  chemical  analysis.  These  concretions  are 
round  ;  they  are  seldom  found  except  in  the  rumen,  and  never  in  the 
intestines  ;  and  there  is  always  a  central  nucleus  of  stone  or  metal ; 
the  concentric  layers  are  regulaily  and  beautifully  marked  ;  and  the 
concretion,  when  sawed  asunder,  will  bear  a  high  degree  of  polish. 

Of  the  effect  of  these  substances  on  the  health  of  the  animal  it  is 
difficult  to  speak.  One  thing,  however,  is  certain,  that  they  are  oftener 
found  and  in  greater  numbers  in  those  that  are  ailing  and  out  of  con- 
dition, than  in  stronger  and  thriving  beasts  ;  but  whether  some  fault 
in  the  digestive  organs,  indicated  by  this  poorness  of  condition,  gives 
a  tendency  to  the  formation  of  concretions  in  the  paunch,  or  the 
presence  of  these  concretions  impairs  the  digestive  powers  and  pro- 
duces general  unthriftiness,  are  questions  which  it  is  difficult  to 
answer.  Each  opinion  may  in  its  turn  be  true,  but  it  is  probable  that 
the  latter  state  of  things  oftenest  occurs.  These  calculi  are,  with  few 
exceptions,  confined  to  the  stomach,  where  they  may  produce  a  sense 
of  oppression  and  impairment  of  appetite,  but  cannot  be  the  cause  of 
colic,  obstruction,  inflammation,  and  strangulation  of  the  intestines. 


DISTENSION  OF  THE  RUMEN   FROM  FOOD.  301 

DISTENSION  OF    THE    RCMEN    FROM    FOOD. 

Cattle,  when  first  put  on  succulent  grass  or  turnips,  or  when 
suffered  to  gorge  themselves  with  potatoes  or  grains,  or  even  with 
chaff,  will  sometimes  distend  the  rumen  almost  to  bursting. 

The  history  of  the  case  will  generally  unfold  the  nature  of  it ;  and 
it  will  be  distinguished  from  hoove  by  its  not  being  attended  by 
occasional  eructation,  by  the  swelling  not  being  so  great  as  in  hoove, 
and  by  the  hardness  of  the  flanks.  Should  any  doubt,  however, 
remain,  the  probang  should  be  passed  into  the  rumen,  when,  if  that 
be  distended  with  gas,  a  sudden  and  violent  rush  of  the  imprisoned 
air  will  follow.  The  probang,  however,  should  always  be  used,  not 
only  to  determine  this  point,  but  the  degree  to  which  the  rumen  is 
distended  by  food. 

When,  although  the  animal  may  be  dull,  refusing  to  eat,  and  ceas- 
ing to  ruminate,  generally  lying  down  and  showing  great  disinclination 
to  move,  yet  the  pulse  is  not  materially  quickened,  and  the  muscle  is 
cool  and  moist,  and  there  is  little  heaving  at  the  flanks,  and  no  indi- 
cation of  pain,  the  practitioner  may  content  himself  with  a  free 
bleeding  and  a  powerful  dose  of  physic.  These  symptoms,  however, 
are  often  treacherous,  and,  without  vvarninsf,  uneasiness,  hea^ins:, 
stupor,  and  death  may  rapidly  succeed. 

In  mild  cases,  stimulants  may  be  resorted  to  with  frequent  advan- 
tage. Ammonia,  ether,  aromatics,  and  spirits,  have  succeeded  in 
rousing  the  stomach  to  action,  and  establishing  the  process  of  rumi- 
nation ;  and  that  once  established,  there  is  little  fear  of  the  result  ol 
the  case.  These  stimulants  should,  however,  be  always  accompanied 
by  aperient  medicines. 

When,  however,  the  symptoms  are  sudden  dullness,  uneasiness, 
shifting  of  posture,  moaning,  swelling  at  the  sides,  the  flank  feeling 
hard  and  not  yielding  to  pressure  ;  when  rumination  ceases,  and  the 
uneasiness  and  moaning  increase,  and  the  animal  gradually  becomes 
unconscious,  this  will  admit  of  no  delay,  and  demands  mechanical 
relief;  the  introduction  of  the  probang  will  ascertain  the  degree  of 
distension. 

Should  the  probang  enter  a  little  way  into  the  stomach,  and  the 
operator  be  able  to  move  it  about,  he  will  have  proof  that,  although 
the  paunch  is  sufticiently  distended  to  produce  severe  annoyance  and 
considerable  danger  to  the  animal,  it  is  not  stretched  to  the  utmost ; 
he  may  first  try  the  effect  of  mild  measures,  and  he  will  be  especially 
encouraged  to  attempt  this  if  he  finds  that  the  food  is  of  a  rather 
light  nature. 

If  the  probang  cannot  be  introduced  at  all  into  the  rumen,  or  the 
food  eaten  is  heavy,  as  grains,  or  potatoes,  or  corn,  the  most  judicious 
plan  will  be  to  make  an  incision  without  delay  through  the  left  flank 
into  the  rumen,  and  thus  extract  its  contents. 


302 


CATTLE. 


This  mode  of  proceeding,  however,  is  recommended  only  in  cases 
of  extreme  distension  with  heavy  food.  The  rumen  of  cattle,  wath 
few  blood-vessels  and  nerves,  will  endure  very  severe  treatment 
without  serious  injury.  The  principal  danger  is  ^^nd  it  exists  to  a 
considerable  extent,  that  a  portion  of  the  food  wili,  during  the  extri- 
cation of  the  rest  from  the  stomach,  fall  between  the  skin  and  the 
■wall  of  the  rumen  into  the  abdomen,  and  there  remain,  a  source  of 
irritation,  and  the  unsuspected  cause  of  serious  and  fatal  disease. 

A  beast,  whose  paunch  has  been  distended  to  any  considerable 
degree,  should  be  prepared  for  the  butcher,  or  sold  immediately,  if 
in  tolerable  condition  ;  for  a  stomach,  whose  muscular  fibres  have 
been  so  stretched  and  enfeebled,  will  not  soon  do  its  full  duty  again ; 
or  a  small  portion  of  food,  which,  notwithstanding  the  most  careful 
management,  may  fall  into  the  belly,  will  sometimes,  after  a  -while, 
produce  inflammation  of  the  intestines,  and  death. 


STOMACH    PUMP. 

This  consists  of  a  large  syringe.  The  cuts,  Nos.  1  and  2,  show 
its  use  or  application.     It  has  an  opening  on  the  side  at  b. 

When  a  medicine,  or  food,  (as  gruel)  or  water  is  to  he  forced  into 
the  stomach,  a  hollow  pipe,  b,  fig.  1,  is  put  down  the  throat,  and  then 
attached  to  the  syringe  at  the  opening  at  b.  The  syringe  is  then  put 
into  a  vessel  containing  whatever  is  to  be  thrown  into  the  stomach 
and  pumped  in.     In  the  same  manner  injections  are  to  be  given. 

Whenever  the  contents  of  the  stomach  are  to  be  drawn  out,  then 
the  pipe,  d,  fig.  2,  is  put  down  the  throat,  into  the  stomach,  and  the 
handle  of  the  syringe  drawn  back,  when  the  contents  of  the  stomach 
are  brought  up  and  pass  out  at  the  sids  opening,  b. 


DISTENSION  OF  THE  STOMACH  FROM  GAS.  303 

HOOVE,    BLOWN,    OR    DISTENSION    OP    THE    STOMACH    FROM    GAS. 

If  a  beast,  taken  from  poor  or  less  nutritive  food,  is  put  upon 
clover,  or  turnips,  or  rich-fog,  it  eats  so  greedily  and  so  much,  that 
the  rumen  ceases  to  act.  These  green  vegetable  substances  are 
naturally  subject  to  fermentation,  during  which  much  gas  is  extricated, 
but  when  inclosed  in  the  stomach  and  exposed  to  the  combined 
influence  of  heat  and  moisture,  the  commencement  of  the  fermentation 
is  hastened,  and  its  eflfect  increased. 

The  "  Hoove"  or  "  Blown"  is  distension  of  the  rumen,  by  gas 
extricated  from  substances  undergoing  the  process  of  fermentation 
A^ithin  it.  In  a  healthy  discharge  of  the  fimctions  of  the  stomach, 
the  food  simply  undergoes  a  process  of  maceration  or  softening  ;  but 
if  the  food  be  retained  in  the  stomach  longer  than  the  usual  period,  it, 
or  perhaps  only  a  portion  of  the  juices  which  it  contains,  begins  to 
ferment ;  or,  as  in  animals  with  simple  stomachs,  even  this  prepara- 
tory one  may  so  sympathize  with  cert;iin  states  of  the  constitution, 
as  either  to  secrete  an  acid  principle,  or  to  favor  the  development  of 
it  in  the  food.  It  is  from  this  cause  that  some  degree  of  hoove 
accompanies  most  fevers,  and  it  is  the  consequence  of  general  irrita- 
tion produced  by  obstruction  of  the  oesophagus;  it  sometimes  accom- 
panies difficult  parturition,  and  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  is  necessary 
to  puncture  the  rumen  before  the  calf  can  descend  sufficiently  low 
into  the  pelvis  to  be  extracted. 

Its  most  frequent  cause,  however,  is  the  turning  of  a  beast  from 
poor,  or  less  nutritious  food,  into  plentiful  and  luxuriant  pasture, 
when  he  frequently  eats  so  greedily,  and  so  much,  that  the  stomach 
is  overloaded,  and  is  unable  to  circulate  the  food  through  it  cavities, 
and  from  the  combined  action  of  heat  and  moisture,  its  contents  speedily 
ferment,  and  gas  is  extricated.      The  following  are  the  symptoms : — 

The  animal  gradually  becomes  oppressed  and  distressed.  It  ceases 
to  eat ;  it  does  not  ruminate  ;  it  scarcely  moves  ;  but  it  stands  with 
its  head  extended,  breathing  heavily,  and  moaning.  The  whole  belly 
is  blown  up  ;  this  is  particularly  evident  at  the  flanks,  and  most  of  all 
at  the  left  flank,  under  which  the  posterior  division  of  the  rumen  hes. 
The  rumen  in  cattle  is  scantily  supplied  with  either  blood-vessels  or 
nerves,  and  therefore  the  brain  is  seldom  much  aff"ected  in  an  early 
stage  of  hoove.  Swelling,  unwillingness  to  move,  and  laborious 
breathing,  are  the  first  and  distinguishing  symptoms.  In  proportion 
as  the  stomach  becomes  distended  by  the  extricated  gas,  the  case 
becomes  more  desperate,  not  only  from  the  pressure  on  the  other 
contents  of  the  abdomen,  thus  impeding  the  circulation  of  the  blood, 
and  also  on  the  diaphragm,  against  which  the  rumen  abuts,  and  thus 
impeding  respiration,  and  also  the  danger  of  rupture  of  the  paunch, 
bat  the  construction  of  the  oesophagean  canal  renders  it  manifest  that 
the  rumen  will  be  more  obstinately  closed  in  proportion  as  it  is  dis- 


304  CATTLE. 

tended.  It  is  the  relaxation  of  the  muscular  fibres  which  causes  the 
two  pillars  that  constitute  the  floor  of  the  canal  and  the  roof  of  the 
rumen  to  be  easily  opened,  either  for  the  admission  or  the  return  of 
food  ;  but  when  the  stomach  is  filled  and  elongated,  as  well  as 
widened,  these  fleshy  pillars  must  be  stretched,  and  in  proportion  as 
(ihev  are  distended,  will  they  be  brought  closer  to  each  other,  and 
firmly  held  there.  When  the  rumen  is  filling,  there  are  occasional 
eructations  of  a  sour  or  fetid  character  ;  but  when  the  stomach  is 
once  filled,  there  is  no  longer  the  possibility  of  escape  for  its  contents. 

The  animal  cannot  long  sustain  this  derangement  of  important 
parts ;  inflammation  is  set  up,  and  the  circulation  becomes  seriously 
and  dangerously  disturbed  by  this  partial  obstruction.  Aff^ection  of 
the  brain  comes  at  last,  characterized  by  fullness  of  the  vessels,  hard- 
ness of  the  pulse,  redness  of  the  conjunctiv^a,  and  protrusion  of  the 
eye.  The  tongue  hangs  from  the  mouth,  and  the  mouth  is  filled 
with  spume.  The  beast  stands  with  his  back  bent,  his  legs  as  much 
as  possible  under  him  ;  and  he  gradually  becomes  insensible — im- 
movable— moans — falls — struggles  with  some  violence,  and  as  death 
approaches,  some  relaxation  of  the  parts  ensues,  and  a  quantity  of 
green  sour  liquid,  occasionally  mixed  with  more  solid  food,  flows 
from  the  mouth  and  nose. 

In  order  to  save  the  animal,  the  gas  must  be  liberated  or  othei- 
wise  got  rid  of.  Some  persons,  when  symptoms  of  hoove  appear, 
drive  the  animal  about,  and  keep  him  for  a  while  in  constant  motion. 
It  is  supposed,  that  in  the  motion  of  all  the  contents  of  the  abdomen, 
while  the  animal  is  moving  briskly  about,  the  pillars  of  the  roof  of 
the  paunch  must  be  for  a  moment  relaxed,  and  opportunity  given 
for  the  gas  to  escape  into  the  oesophagean  canal,  and  through  the 
gullet ;  and  this  will,  undoubtedly,  be  the  case  to  a  certain  degree. 
The  ox  cannot  without  much  difficulty,  and  often  not  at  all,  be  in- 
duced to  move  with  rapidity,  which  is  necessary  to  produce  concus- 
sions sufficiently  powerful  to  shorten  and  disunite  the  muscular  pil- 
lars. There  must  also  be  some  danger  of  rupturing  the  stomach  so 
much  distended,  or  the  diaphragm,  against  which  it  is  pressing,  by 
the  very  production  of  these  con.ussions. 

Alkalies  have  been  recommended,  as  almost  a  specific.  It  maybe 
conceded  that  the  alkah  would  be  likely  to  neutralize  the  acid  con- 
tents of  the  stomach  ;  but  there  is  one  objection  to  it,  viz.,  that  the 
same  closing  of  the  roof  of  the  rumen,  which  prevents  the  escape  ot 
the  gas,  would  also  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  alkali,  which  would, 
consequently,  pass  on  to  the  third  and  fourch  stomachs,  where  there 
is  no  acid  for  it  to  neutralize. 

Oil  (whether  olive,  or  spermaceti,  or  castor,  or  common  whale  oil, 
seems  to  be  a  matter  of  indiff'erence)  will  sometimes  prove  servicea- 
ble in  cases  of  hoove  ;  but  it  is  either  at  the  very  commencement,  be- 
fore the  muscular  pillars  are  tightened,  and  when  a  portion  of  it  can 


DISTENSION  OF  THE  STOMACH  FROM  GAS.  305 


enter  the  paunch,  and  produce  a  disposition  to  vomiting  or  purging ; 
or,  if  the  whole  passes  on  into  the  fourth  stomach,  and  so  into  the  in- 
testinal canal,  a  sympathetic  but  inverted  action  is  excited  in  the  ru- 
men, and  a  portion  of  its  contents  is  sent,  by  an  unusual  passage, 
from  the  rumen  through  the  third  and  into  the  fourth  stomach,  and 
so  relief  is  obtained.  In  this  way  purging  is  occasionally  established, 
either  in  consequence  of  a  stimulus  applied  immediately  to  the  coats 
of  the  first  stomach,  or  from  sympathy  with  the  action  going  forward 
in  the  intestinal  canal,  and  a  portion  of  the  food  is  carried  from  the 
rumen  into  the  intestines  without  being  returned  to  the  mouth  to  be 
remasticated.  The  grassy  and  harder  fibres,  sometimes  found  in  the 
dung  in  considerable  quantities,  prove  that  that  portion  of  it  could 
not  have  undergone  rumination.  This,  however,  is  not  striking  at  the 
root  of  the  evil. 

The  object  to  be  acctinplished  is  the  extrication  of  the  gas,  and 
the  prevention  of  any  fresh  quantity  of  it  being  developed.  If  the 
farmer  or  the  practitioner,  at  a  distance  from  home,  sees  any  of  his 
cattle  so  dangerously  hoven  or  swelled  as  to  threaten  speedy  death, 
he  adopts  a  summary  mode  of  getting  rid  of  the  gas  :  he  takes  a 
sharp-pointed  knife,  and  plunges  it  into  the  left  side,  underneath,  and 
in  contact  with  which  the  rumen  is  found.  The  gas  rushes  vio- 
lently through  the  aperture,  carrying  with  it  steam,  and  fluid,  and 
pieces  of  food.  The  belly  falls,  and  the  beast  is  immediately  relieved. 
The  safest  place  for  this  operation  is  the  following : — Supposing  a 
line  to  be  drawn  close  along  the  vertebrae,  from  the  haunch-bone  to 
the  last  rib,  and  two  other  lines  of  equal  length  to  extend  down  the 
flank,  so  as  to  form  an  equilateral  triangle,  the  apex  of  the  triangle, 
or  the  point  where  these  lines  would  meet,  would  be  the  proper  place 
for  the  operation,  for  there  is  no  danger  of  wounding  either  the  spleen 
or  the  kidney. 

It  may  also  be  suggested,  that  a  small  trochar  is  far  preferable  to 
a  knife  for  this  operation,  and  might  very  conveniently  be  carried  in 
the  instrument-case  of  the  surgeon,  or  the  pocket  of  the  farmer.  It 
consists  of  a  short  strong  stilett,  terminating  in  three  cutting-edges 
converging  to  a  point,  and  having  a  handle  that  may  be  grasped 
with  some  force.  To  this  is  accurately  fitted  a  silver  tube,  reaching 
from  the  termination  of  the  three  edges  to  the  handle.  This  is 
plunged  into  the  flank ;  the  stilett  is  then  withdrawn  and  the  tube 
remains  as  long  as  the  operator  pleases,  and  may  be  secured  by  tapes 
attached  to  two  rings  at  the  base  of  it,  and  tied  round  the  body  of 
the  animal. 

The  gas  is  certainly  extricated  by  the  knife  or  trochar,  and  gene- 
rally successfully  so.  When  gas  ceases  to  escape,  it  may  be  taken 
for  granted  that  the  manufacture  of  it  has  ceased  in  the  rumnn  ;  the 
trocar  may  then  be  withdrawn,  and  the  w^ound  will  speedily  heal. 
There  are,  however,  occasional  bad  consequences,  which  are  altogethei 


CATTLE. 


unsuspected.  At  the  commencement  of  the  operation,  A\iien  the 
skin  of  the  side  is  in  close  contact  with  the  paunch,  the  gas,  fluid, 
and  fibrou".  matter  will  all  be  safely  thrown  out  through  the  two 
wounds,  fcr,  lying  upon  each  other,  they  are  but  as  one;  but  when 
the  paunch  is  partially  emptied  of  the  gas,  it  sinks,  and  is  no  longer 
in  contact  with  the  outside  skin.  The  gas  and  particles  of  solid  food 
continue  to  be  discharged  for  a  considerable  time  after  this  ;  and 
although  the  greater  part  may  be  ejected  with  sufficient  force  to  be 
driven  through  the  aperture  in  the  skin,  yet  some  portion  will 
necessarily  fall  into  the  abdomen  and  remain  there.  This  will,  ere 
long,  become  a  source  of  considerable  and  dangerous  irritation, 
slow  or  rapid  in  its  progress  and  effects,  according  to  the  quantity 
of  food  that  has  escaped  from  the  stomach  into  the  abdominal  cavity : 
accordingly  it  happens,  that  although  the  beast  may  appear  to  be 
perfectly  relieved  by  this  operation,  he  does  not  thrive  well  after- 
wards, and  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  or  months,  sickens  and  dies 
of  some  obscure  disease,  but  which  is  principally  referable  to  in- 
flammatory affection  of  the  abdomen.  Therefore,  the  farmer  or 
practitioner  who  has  faith  in  an  occasional  recourse  to  the  mode  of 
cure  by  puncturing  the  rumen,  should  always  carry  a  trochar  with 
him,  for  the  tube  penetrating  three  or  four  inches  into  the  abdomen, 
forms  a  continuous  passage  between  the  rumen  and  the  skin,  not- 
withstanding the  subsidence  of  the  former,  and  would  prevent  the 
escape  of  any  portion  of  the  contents  of  the  rumen  into  the  abdomen. 

Although  a  portion  of  the  gas  may  be  liberated  by  this  operation, 
yet  the  process  of  fermentation  maj'  proceed.  The  gas  may  escape, 
but  that  which  w^ould  furnish  a  continued,  annoying,  and  dangerous 
supply  of  it,  remains.  Then  the  advocates  for  opening  the  paunch 
carry  their  operations  a  httle  farther.  They  enlarge  the  aperture 
into  the  paunch,  until,  as  in  bad  cases  of  maw-bound,  they  can  in- 
troduce their  hand,  and  shovel  out  the  contents  ;  and,  as  before 
stated,  the  stomach,  from  its  comparative  insensibility  and  want  of 
vitality,  bears  all  this  without  any  considerable  inflammation  or 
danger ;  there  is  however,  the  same  danger  from  the  escape  of  a 
portion  of  the  contents  into  the  cavity  of  the  belly. 

This  larger  opening  into  the  rumen  should  never  be  attempted 
except  by  a  person  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  anatomy  of  cattle, 
and  the  precise  situation  of  the  viscera  of  the  belly,  for  otherwise 
the  kidneys  or  the  intestines  may  be  wounded. 

It  was  the  knowledge  that  the  practice  of  puncturing  the  i-umen 
was  not  so  simple  and  so  free  from  danger  as  some  had  imagined, 
that  led  to  the  invention  and  use  of  the  prohang  and  stomach- 
fump.  The  tube  (fig.  1,  a,  p.  280)  is  introduced  into  the  mouth, 
and  is  passed  down  the  throat,  with  the  rounded  extremity,  e,  down- 
ward, and  is  forced  on  through  the  pillars  of  the  oesophagean  canal : 
the  stilett  is  then  withdrawn,  and  the  gas  rushes  violently  out.     The 


DISTENSION  OF  THE  STUMACH  FROM  GAS.  307 

tube  is  continued  in  the  mouth  until  the  belly  sinks,  and  little  gas 
escapes  :  the  animal  is  greatly  relieved,  and  if  it  begins  to  swell 
again,  the  probang  is  once  more  introduced.  But  the  tube  cannot 
I'eraain  in  the  mouth  and  gullet  for  any  great  length  of  time ;  and 
when  it  is  withdrawn,  the  manufacture  of  gas  may  continue  undi- 
minished, and  the  rehef  be  only  temporary,  and  so  far  the  probang 
may  be  in  some  degree  inferior  to  the  trochar. 

The  practitioner  then  has  recourse  to  the  stomach-pump,  and 
throws  in  a  considerable  quantity  of  warm  water,  and  pumps  it  out 
again  ;  and  repeats  the  operation  until  he  has  washed  away  all  the 
acid  fermenting  fluid,  and  then  usually  the  process  of  rumination 
recommences,  and  the  animal  does  well.  Sometimes  he  so  over- 
charges the  stomach  that  vomiting  is  j)roduced,  and  a  great  portion 
of  the  contents  of  the  rumen  is  thus  discharged. 

Alkalies  have  been  throw^n  into  the  stomach  to  neutralize  the  sup- 
posed acid  principle  which  there  prevailed.  As,  however,  a  very 
small  portion  of  it,  if  any,  enters  the  rumen,  it  will  principally  do 
good,  and  much  good  it  frequently  does  effect,  by  its  stimulant  effect 
on  the  fourth  stomach,  propagated  by  sympathy  to  the  first. 

Hoove,  however,  had.  long  been  considered  to  be  a  case  in  which 
the  aid  of  chemistry  might  be  resorted  to  with  considerable  benefit. 
It  had  been  suspected  that  the  gas  consisted  principally  of  hydrogen ; 
for  when  a  lighted  candle  had  been  accidentally  brought  into  contact 
with  the  vapor  as  it  rushed  from  the  aperture  in  the  flank,  the  gas 
immediately  caught  fire.  Careful  analysis  indicated  that  the  gas 
was  diflerently  combined  in  different  stages.  In  recent  hoove  it 
consisted  chiefly  of  carburetted  hydrogen — the  union  of  carbon  with 
hydrogen  ;  in  more  chronic  cases  there  was  a  mixture  of  sulphuret- 
ted hydrogen — the  union  of  sulphur  and  hydrogen;  and,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  continuance  of  the  hoove,  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
increased,  and  at  length  prevailed.  In  both  cases  hydrogen  was  the 
chief  constituent. 

Then  came  the  inquiry,  whether  something  might  not  be  introducd 
into  the  stomach  which  would  combine  with  the  gas  already  extrica- 
ted and  cause  it  to  disappear,  and  also  prevent  its  future  accumula- 
tion, by  combining  with  it  as  soon  as  it  was  produced. 

A  method  was  soon  discovered.  Chlorine  has  affinity  for  various 
substances,  as  lime,  potash,  and  s-oda ;  and  in  combination  with 
either  of  these  could  be  used.  When  introduced  by  means  ot  the 
Btomach-pump  into  the  rumen,  the  chlorine  will  separate  itself  from 
the  alkah,  and  combine  with  the  hydrogen,  for  which  it  has  a  more 
powerful  affinity,  and  forms  muriatic  gas.  This  gas  has  a  strong 
affinity  for  water,  and  will  be  quxkly  absorbed  by  the  fluid  always 
contained  within  the  stomach  ;  and  so,  quitting  its  gaseous  for  a  fluid 
form,  it  quickly  disappears,  or  will  not  retain  a  thousandth  part  of 
lis  former  bulk,  and  muriatic  acid  will  be  formed.     At  the  same  time, 


CATTLE. 


the  lime  or  potash,  or  soda,  will  be  liborated  ;  yet  no  danger  results 
fronQ  the  presence  of  this  corroding  acid  and  caustic  alkali ;  for  there 
is  a  chemical  affinity  bet^^een  them  which  will  be  soon  exerted,  and 
the  harmless  and  inert  muriates  of  lime  or  potash,  or  soda,  be 
produced.  Hence  resulted  one  of  the  most  important  improvements 
in  cattle-medicine  that  modern  times  have  produced. 

There  are  several  other  medicaments  which  have  been  found  of 
great  service  in  this  disease,  such  as  lime-water,  potash,  hartshorn, 
and  particularly  sulphuric  ether.  About  an  ounce  and  a  half  of 
hartshorn  may  be  given  in  a  pint  and  a  half  of  water,  unless  the 
symptoms  are  so  urgent  as  to  threaten  immediate  suffocation  :  then 
the  flexible  tube,  if  at  hand,  should  be  used  ;  or,  if  not,  the  trochar, 
or  the  knife,  plunged  into  the  flank.  If  the  symptoms  should  denote 
any  inflammation,  ether  will  be  preferable  as  a  medicine,  as  it 
promptly  condenses  the  gases :  an  ounce  m;iy  be  given  in  a  pint  of 
water.  If  the  symptoms  are  produced  by  green  food,  there  is  less 
probability  of  inflammation  than  if  the  food  has  been  previously 
<iry. 

The  chloride  of  lime  is  as  good  as  either  of  the  others,  and  should 
always  be  in  the  possession  of  the  farmer  and  practitioner,  not  only 
for  this  purpose,  but  because,  in  cases  of  foul,  fetid  ulceration,  and 
gangrene  generally,  it  is  the  most  powerful  disinfectant,  and  the  most 
useful  stimulant  that  can  be  applied.  The  proper  and  safe  dose  is 
two  drachms  of  the  powdered  chloride  of  lime  dissolved  in  two 
quarts  of  water,  and  injected  into  the  paunch  by  means  of  the  sto- 
mach-pump. This  may  be  repeated  an  hour  afterward,  if  circum- 
stances should  appear  to  require  it. 

The  trocliar  will  then  supersede  the  use  of  the  knife  and  the  lancet, 
when,  under  circumstances  of  emergency,  the  practitioner  may  be 
compelled  to  act  promptly ;  for,  by  the  continuance  of  the  tube  in 
the  wound,  some  of  the  distant  and  unsuspected  results  of  the  com- 
mon method  of  puncturing  the  rumen  may  be  avoided  ;  but  when 
the  practioner  is  near  home,  or  can  obtain  speedy  access  to  his  sto- 
mach-tube and  pump,  the  trochar  will  be  completely  discarded. 

The  animal  having  been  relieved,  and  the  gas  ceasing  to  distend 
the  paunch,  a  pound  of  Epsom  salts  should  be  administered  with  an 
ounce  of  carraway  powder,  and  half  an  ounce  of  ginger ;  and,  on 
several  successive  mornings,  four  ounces  of  Epsom  salts,  two  of 
pcwdered  gentian,  and  half  an  ounce  of  ginger  should  be  given. 
The  object  of  the  practitioner,  or  the  owner,  should  be  to  restore, 
as  speedily  and  as  effectually  as  possible,  the  tone  and  action  of  the 
rumen.  The  return  of  the  process  of  rumination  will  show  when 
that  is  beginning  to  be  eft'ected,  and  rumination  will  usually  precede 
the  desiie  to  eat. 

Attention  should  for  some  time  be  paid  to  the  manner  of  feeding. 
A  mash  should  be  daily  allowed,  and  the  pasture  on  which  the  beast 


LOSS  OF  CUD. 


is  turned  should  be  short  and  bare,  rather  than  luxuriant.  The  over- 
distended  stomach  of  the  hoven  beast  will  not  soon,  and  in  most 
cases  will  never,  quite  recover  its  former  energy ;  and  if  the  beast 
be  in  tolerable  condition,  it  should  be  sent  to  the  butcher,  or  it 
should  be  got  ready  for  the  market  as  quickly  as  that  can  with 
safety  be  effected. 

Sucking  -calves  are  occasionally  subject  to  hoove.  Little  more 
will  be  necessary  in  this  case  than  the  introduction  of  the  probang. 
This  distension  of  the  rumen  arises  from  some  accidental  and  tempo- 
rary cause,  and  there  is  rarely  any  continued  manufacture  of  gas 
within  the  stomach.  Some  calves  becom.e  blown  from  the  trick  which 
they  frequently  have  of  sucking  each  other's  pizzle  or  ear.  It  is  cu- 
rious to  see  with  what  eagerness  they  will  do  this,  and  how  quickly 
they  blow  themselves  up  by  the  air  which  they  draw  in  and  swallow. 
Tl^  introduction  of  the  probang  will  be  sufficient  here,  but  it  will  be 
prudent  to  separate  the  animals. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. —  Colchicum  aiitumnale  rarely  fails  in  its 
effects,  and  ordinarily  it  establishes  an  instantaneous  cute.  Some- 
times, however,  it  must  be  repeated  two,  three,  and  even  four  times. 
Occasionally  the  symptoms  subside  without  the  animal  voiding  any 
wind.  In  chronic  meteorization,  or  formation  of  gas,  which  is  renewed 
frequently,  colchicum  taken  alternately  with  arsenicum  is  very  useful. 
Benefit  it  is  said  has  been  derived  from  china.  If  rumination  be  not 
re-established  at  the  time  the  disease  is  cured,  aconitum  must  be  given, 
And  after  some  hours,  arsenicum.  When  meteorization,  gas,  has  been 
caused  not  by  green  fodder,  but  by  some  disturbance  of  digestion, 
we  must  have  recourse  to  nux  vomica  ;  the  same  substance  is  suita- 
ble, when  the  disease  is  attributable  to  the  animal's  having  eaten 
colchicum  in  the  meadows. 

Lastly,  when  the  danger  has  become  so  pressing  that  we  are 
brouglit  to  the  necessity  of  puncturing  in  order  to  avoid  death,  it  is, 
however,  still  necessary  to  administer  the  colchicum  after  having 
cleansed  the  mouth  carefully  ;  after  some  time  \  few  doses  of  arnica 
must  be  given. 

LOSS  OF  CUD. 

The  cessation  of  rumination,  designated  by  tne  term  "  the  loss  of 
cud,"  is  more  a  symptom  of  disease,  than  a  disease  of  itself.  It  ac- 
companies most  inflammatory  complaints,  and  is  often,  connected 
with  those  of  debility.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  practitioner  to 
ascertain  the  cause  of  this  suspension  of  second  mastication,  and  to 
adapt  his  mode  of  treatment  to  the  nature  of  that  cause.  A  dose  of 
physic,  with  a  very  small  portion  of  aromntic  medicine,  will  be  indi- 
cated  if  any  fever  can  be  detected  ;  more  than  the  usual  quantity  of 
the  aromatic  will  be  added  in  the  absence  of  fever,  and  stil)  more, 
with  tonic  and  alterative  medicine,  if  general  debifity  be  indicated. 


SIO  CATTLE. 


The  carraway  and  ginger  powder  are  the  best  aronaatics  that  can  be 
employed,  and  will  supersede  every  other  :  the  gentian  and  ginger, 
with  Epsom  salts,  as  recommended  in  page  308,  will  prove  a  very- 
useful  tonic  and  alterative,  in  cases  of  "  loss  of  cud"  that  cannot  be 
traced  to  any  particular  diseased  state  of  the  animal,  or  that  seems  to 
be  connected  with  general  debility. 

INFLAMMATION   OF  THE  RUMEN. 

■  In  almost  every  book  on  cattle-medicine  mention  is  made  of  "  in- 
flammation of  the  stomach  ;'*  and  certainly  cases  do,  although  but 
rarely,  occur,  in  which  evident  traces  of  inflammation  of  the  rumen 
may  be  discovered  on  examination  after  death.  The  cuticular  coat 
is  not  discolored,  but  it  peels  from  the  mucous  coat  below  at  the 
slightest  touch,  and  that  coat  is  red  and  injected.  This  is  particu- 
larly the  case  when  a  beast  dies  soon  after  apparent  recovery  from 
distension  of  the  stomach  by  gas,  or  when  he  is  destroyed  by  the 
accumulation  of  solid  food  that  could  not  be  removed.  It  is  likewise 
found  in  every  case  of  poisoning,  but  the  symptoms  during  life  are 
so  obscure  that  it  would  be  useless  to  bestow  further  time  on  the 
consideration  of  this  disease. 

POISONS. 

Nature  has  endowed  the  brute  with  an  acuteness  of  the  various 
senses,  and  with  a  degree  of  instinct  which,  so  far  as  the  life  and 
enjoyment  and  usefulness  of  the  animal  are  concerned,  fully  compen- 
sate for  the  lack  of  the  intelligence  of  the  human  being.  The  quad- 
ruped is  scarcely  born  ere  he  is  mysteriously  guided,  and  without 
any  of  the  lessons  of  experience,  to  the  kind  of  food  which  aflbrds 
him  the  most  suitable  nourishment,  and  he  is  warned  from  that  which 
would  be  deleterious.  There  is  scarcely  a  pasture  which  does  not 
contain  some  poisonous  plants,  yet  the  beast  crops  the  grass  close 
around  them,  without  gathering  a  particle  of  that  which  would  be 
injurious.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  however,  and  especially  after 
they  have  been  kept  in  the  stall  or  the  straw-yard  during  the  winter, 
and  supported  chiefly  on  dry  food,  as  soon  as  they  are  turned  into 
the  fields  cattle  eat  greedily  of  every  herb  that  presents  itself,  and 
frequently  are  seriously  diseased,  and  sometimes  quite  poisoned.. 
They  are  under  the  influence  of  appetite  almost  ungovernable,  and 
few  plants  have  then  acquired  tlieir  distinguishing  form  and  color, 
and  taste  and  smell.  The  common  and  water-hemlock,  the  water 
dropwort,  and  the  yew,  are  the  principal  plants  that  are  poisonous  to 
cattle ;  but  it  is  said  that  the  common  crow-foot,  and  various  others 
of  the  ranunculus  family,  the  wild  parsnip,  black  henbane,  and  the 
wild  poppy,  are  occasionally  destructive. 

The  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  these  acrid  and  narcotic  plants  are 
obscure,  unless  they  can  be  connected  with  the  history  of  the  case. 
They  are  principally  sudden  swelling,  with  a  peculiar  stupor,  in  the 


POISONS.  311 


early  stage  of  the  attack:  cessation  of  rumination;  a  change  in  the 
quality  of  the  milk,  which  becomes  thin  and  serous,  and  presently 
ceases  to  be  secreted  ;  the  refusal  of  all  soHd  food,  and  eagerness 
after  water ;  quickening  of  the  pulse,  which  yet  b  comes  small,  and, 
in  some  cases,  scarcely  to  be  felt ;  and  the  animal  frequently  grinds 
the  teeth,  and  paws,  and  rolls,  as  if  it  felt  severe  colic  pains.  In  a 
few  instances  the  stupor  passes  over,  an-d  a  degree  of  excitement 
and  bhnd  fury  succeeds,  which  has  been  mistaken  for  madness. 

On  examination  after  death,  the  greater  part  of  the  poison  is  usu- 
ally found  in  the  paunch,  but,  in  a  few  cases,  it  has  been  remasti- 
cated,  and  conveyed  into  the  fourth  stomach  and  intestines.  The 
sense  of  taste  does  not  seem  to  be  ver}^  acute  in  cattle  ;  it  is  a  sleepy 
kind  of  pleasure  w^hich  they  feel  in  rumination,  and  the  acrid  and 
bitter  flavor  of  many  a  plant  appears  to  give  them  little  annoyance. 

Inflammation  is  found  in  the  paunch  and  second  stomach,  charac- 
terized by  the  ease  with  which  the  cuticular  coat  is  separated  from 
that  beneath.  The  manyplus  is  usually  filled  with  dry  and  hardened 
food ;  and  the  fourth  stomach  and  intestines  exhibit  inflammation 
and  ulceration  proportioned  to  the  acrimony  of  the  poison,  and  the 
quantity  of  it  which  had  passed  into  these  viscera. 

Little  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  medicine  when  cattle  have  browsed 
on  these  poisonous  plants,  and  the  only  hope  of  the  practitioner  must 
be  founded  on  the  early  and  persevering  use  of  the  stomach-pump 
Plenty  of  warm  water  should  be  injected  and  pumped  out,  and  that 
repeated  again  and  again  ;  and  at  length  the  stomach  should  be  fully 
distended  with  water,  for  the  purpose,  and  in  the  hope  of,  producing 
vomiting.  Whether  this  succeeds  or  not,  a  brisk  purgative  should  be 
next  administered,  but  as  cautiously  and  gently  as  possible,  that  it 
may  pass  on  over  the  closed  floor  of  the  oesophagean  canal  into  the 
fourth  stomach,  and  not,  by  the  power  with  which  it  descends,  force 
open  the  pillars  that  compose  that  floor,  and  enter  the  rumen  and  be 
lost.  Tonics  and  aromatics  will  here  also  follow  the  evacuation  of  the 
stomach,  in  order  to  restore  its  tone. 

While  speaking  of  poisons,  it  will,  perhaps,  be  proper  to  mention 
that  cattle  are  sometimes  exposed  to  extreme  danger  from  the  appli- 
cation of  deleterious  mineral  preparations  for  the  cure  of  mange  and 
other  cutaneous  eruptions. 

It  is  no  unusual  thing  for  cattle  that  have  been  incautiously  dressed 
with  a  strong  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate,  to  become  seriously  ill. 
They  cease  to  eat  and  to  ruminate ;  the  saliva  drivels  from  their 
mouths  ;  they  paw  wnth  their  feet ;  look  anxiously  at  their  flanks, 
and  are  violently  purged — blood  usually  mingling  with  the  f?eces. 

The  remedy,  if  there  be  time  and  opportunity  to  have  recourse  to 
it,  is  the  white  of  several  eggs,  beaten  up  with  thick  gruel,  and  gently 
poured  down  the  throat,  that  it  may  be  more  likely  to  pass  on  to  the 
fourth  stomach  ;    and  this  repeated  every  hour,  until   the  animal  if 


812  CATTLE. 


either  relieved  or  dead.  As  soon  as  decided  relief  is  obtained,  a  dose 
of  physic  should  be  given,  nnd  if  any  fever  seems  to  be  coming  on,  a 
few  pounds  of  blood  should  be  taken  away. 

Cattle  in  the  neighborhood  of  lead-mines  have  been  dangerously 
aflFected  from  the  effects  of  this  ore  in  the  grass.  Difficult  respiration 
with  loud  wheezing  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  symptoms,  the  beast 
losing  its  appetite,  pining  away,  and  at  length  dying  of  suffocation  or 
attacked  by  epileptic  symptoms.  Large  doses  of  Epsom  or  Glauber's 
salts,  with  linseed  oil,  and  followed  by  opium,  are  the  best  remedies. 
The  smoke  from  copper-mines  has  also  produced  sad  disease  amongst 
animals  in  the  neighborhood :  it  causes  swellings  of  the  joints,  of  a 
painful  description.  An  early  removal  to  another  soil  forms  the  best 
treatment. 

Ranking  under  the  general  term  of  poisons,  we  may  mention  the 
bites  of  venomous  reptiles.  The  beast  is  generally  stung  about  the 
head  or  feet,  for  it  is  most  likely  to  disturb  these  reptiles  either  in  the 
act  of  browsing,  or  as  it  wanders  over  the  pasture.  Cattle  bitten  in 
the  tongue  almost  invariably  die.  They  are  suffocated  by  the  rapid 
swelling  which  takes  place.  The  udder  has  occasionally  been  stung ; 
but  the  supposed  bites  on  the  teats  are,  far  oftener  than  otherwise, 
the  effect  of  garget. 

Emhi'ocation  for  Bite  of  Reptiles. — Take  hartshorn,  and  olive  oil, 
/qual  quantities.  Shake  them  well  together,  and  rub  the  wound  and 
the  neighboring  parts  well  with  the  liniment  morning  and  night. 

A  quart  of  olive  oil  should  also  be  given  to  the  animal,  mixed  with 
an  ounce  of  hartshorn.  Oil  of  turpentine  may  be  used  when  harts- 
horn cannot  be  procured  ;  but  it  is  not  so  much  to  be  depended  upon. 

The  stings  of  horneis,  wasps,  and  bees,  in  some  cases  prodiJce 
much  temporary  swelling  and  pain.  If  the  part  be  well  rubbed  with 
warm  vinegar,  the  inconvenience  will  soon  subside. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    RETICULUM. 

Of  these,  in  the  present  state  of  knowledge  of  cattle-medicine,  little 
can  be  said.  Some  of  the  foreign  substances  that  are  found  in  the 
rumen  have  been  occasionaly  discovered  in  the  reticulum,  as  pins, 
pieces  of  wire,  nails,  small  stones,  kc.  They  were,  probably,  ejected 
over  the  valve  between  the  two  stomachs,  enveloped  by,  or  attached 
to,  the  portion  of  food  that  was  preparing  for  a  second  mastication. 
In  the  forcible  contraction  of  the  stomach,  it  has  been  severely 
wounded  by  these,  and  so  much  inflammation  has  ensued  that  the 
animal  has  been  lost. 

The  writer  of  this  treatise  hab  frequently  seen  inflammation  of  the 
second  stomach — sometimes  accompanying  that  of  the  paunch,  and 
at  other  times  seemingly  confined  to  the  reticulum.  This  inflam- 
mation was,  as  in  the  rumen,  characterized  by  the  peeling  off  of  the 
cuticular  coat,  and  the  redness  of   the  tissue  beneath  it;    but  the 


DISEASES  OF  THE  MANYPLUS,  OR  MANIFOLDS.  318 

symptoms  were  so  different  in  diflferent  cases,  and  always  so  obscure, 
that  no  legitimate  conclusion  could  be  drawn  from  the  appearances 
that  presented  themselves. 

DISEASES    OF    THE    MANYPLUS,    OR    MANIFOLDS. 

Although  the  function  of  this  stomacK  is  one  of  a  purely  mechani- 
cal nature,  there  seems  to  be  a  strong  bond  of  sympathy  between  it 
and  almost  every  part  of  the  frame.  There  are  few  serious  diseases 
by  which  cattle  are  afflicted,  and  none  of  an  acute  and  inflammatory 
nature,  in  which  the  manyplus  is  not  involved.  It  is  so  common  in 
cases  of  catarrh,  constipation,  inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  bowels, 
simple  fever,  dropping  after  calving,  blain,  and  even  murrain,  to  find 
the  manyplus  either  choked  with  food  in  a  hardened  state,  or,  if  con- 
tinuing soft,  yet  having  become  exceedingly  putrid  and  emitting  a 
most  nauseous  smell,  that  the  idea  of  the  animal  being  fardel-hound^ 
or  having  disease  of  the  faik,  is  always  present  in  the  mind  of  the 
farmer  and  the  country  practitioner.  They  are  seldom  wrong  in  this 
surmise,  for  the  fardel-bag  either  sympathizes  with  the  diseases  of 
other  paits,  or  is  the  original  seat  and  focus  of  disease. 

The  manyplus  has  been  described  as  containing  numerous  leaves, 
curtains,  or  duplicatures  of  its  cuticular  coat,  and  with  interposed 
layers  of  muscular  and  vascular  tissue,  which  hang  from  its  roof  and 
float  loose  in  its  cavity.  These  leaves  are  covered  with  innumerable 
little  hard  papillae  or  prominences  ;  and  many  of  these,  and  especially 
toward  the  lower  edges,  assume  a  greater  degree  of  bulk,  and  some- 
thinfif  of  a  hook-like  form.  Those  portions  of  food  that  are  returned 
after  the  second  mastication,  that  have  not  been  tlioroughly  ground 
down,  are  seized  by  these  hooked  edges  of  the  leaves  and  drawn  up  be- 
tween them,  and  there  retained  until,  by  the  action  of  these  flexible  grind- 
stones, they  are  sufficiently  comminuted  for  the  purpose  of  digestion. 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  that,  either  sharing  in  the  irritability  of  other 
parts,  or  being  the  original  seat  of  irritation  and  inflammation,  the 
manyplus  may  spasmodically  contract  upon  and  forcibly  detain  the 
substances  that  have  been  thus  taken  up  between  its  leaves.  By  this 
contraction  the  natural  moisture  of  the  food,  or  that  which  it  had 
acquired  in  the  processes  of  maceration  and  mastication,  is  mechanically 
squeezed  out,  or  drained  away  by  the  very  position  of  the  leaves,  and 
a  hard  and  dry  mass  necessarily  remains.  When  the  contraction  is 
violent,  and  this  imprisonment  of  the  food  long  continued,  we  can 
even  conceive  of  the  possibility  of  its  becoming  so  hardened  and  dry 
as  to  be  snapped  between  the  fingers,  and  to  be  capable  of  being 
reduced  to  powder.  The  description  of  it  is  not  exaggerated  when 
it  is  said  to  "  look  as  if  it  had  been  baked  in  an  oven."  On  the  other 
hand,  it  can  as  readily  be  imagined  that,  either  debilitated  by  inflam- 
matory action  peculiar  to  itself,  or  sympathizing  with  and  sharing  in 
the  debility  of  other  parts,  the  leaves  may  have  lost  the  power  of 
14 


314  CATTLE. 


actino-  on  the  food  contained  betsveen  them,  and  which,,  supported  by 
the  irregularities  of  the  cuticular  coat,  and  imprisoned  tliere  in  a 
somewhat  pultaceous  form,  wuU  gradually  become  putrid  and  offensive. 

The  animal  may  be  fed  on  too  dry  and  fibrous  matter,  or  he  may 
lazily  and  but  half  perform  the  process  of  rumination  ;  in  consequence 
of  tliis,  the  hard  parts  of  the  food  may  accumulate  in  the  manyplus 
more  rapidly  than  they  can  be  ground  down,  and  so  the  stomach 
may  become  clogged  and  its  function  suspended.  Whatever  the 
cause,  this  state  of  contraction  or  inaction  of  the  manyplus  often 
occurs,  and  either  aggravates  the  pre-existing  malady,  or  becomes  a 
new  source  of  disease,  and  hastens  or  causes  the  death  of  the  animal. 

When  this  stomach  has  been  spasmodically  contracted,  or  long  and 
forcibly  distended,  the  imprisoned  food  presents  a  very  curious 
appearance.  There  is  an  indentation  of  the  papillae  on  the  surface  of 
the  detained  mass.  All  this  force  must  have  produced  inflammation 
of  the  part ;  and  that  intense  inflammation  does  occasionally  exist  in 
the  manyplus,  sufficient  to  produce  great  and  general  derangement 
and  even  to  destroy  the  beast,  is  evident  by  the  easy  separation  of 
the  cuticular  coat.  In  many  cases,  or  perhaps  in  the  majority  of 
them,  it  is  impossible  to  remove  the  detained  mass  from  its  situation 
without  a  portion  of  the  cuticular  coat  accompanying  and  covering  it. 
Even  this  hardened  state  of  the  contents  of  the  manyplus  is  not 
always  a  proof  of  general  disease.  It  is  an  unnatural  and  morbid 
state  of  the  stomach  ;  but  very  considerable  local  disease  may  exist  in 
this  organ,  without  materially,  or  in  any  appreciable  degree,  inter- 
fering with  general  health  and  good  condition.  The  fardel-bag  ha.s- 
been  found  choked  wnth  food,  and  that  dry  and  black,  and  roasted 
and  yet  the  beast  had  apparently  been  in  perfect  health. 

The  author  of  this  treatise  has  seen  the  loss  of  function  confined 
to  one  part  only  of  this  stomach.  Between  some  of  the  leaves,  or  oi 
one  side  or  curvature  of  the  manyplus,  the  contents  have  been  greet 
and  fluid  ;  in  the  other  portion  of  it  they  have  been  perfectly  baked 
It  is  a  wise  and  kind  provision  of  nature,  that  the  general  health  and 
thriving  of  the  animal  shall  in  various  cases  be  so  little  impaired  b} 
local,  although  serious,  disease.  Many  a  trifling  circumstance,  never 
theless,  may  cause  this  local  evil  to  spread  rapidly  and  widely ;  and 
even  without  any  additional  excitement,  the  mere  continuance  of  suet 
a  disease,  accompanied  by  such  derangement  of  function,  can  scarcel} 
fail  of  being  attended  by  injurious  consequences. 

This  state  of  the  manyplus  is  one  of  the  most  serious  species  of 
indigestion  to  Avhich  these  animals  are  subject,  and  deserves  the  atten- 
tive consideration  of  the  practitioner.  There  are,  nevertheless,  many 
difficulties  accompanying  the  study  of  this  important'  subject. 

The  clue  or  fardel-bortnff,  names  by  which  the  retention  of  the  food 
in  the  manifolds  is  distinguished,  may  be  occasionally  produced  by 
the  animal  feeding  on  too  stimulating  plants,  cr  on  those  which  are 


DISEASES  OF  THE  MANYPLUS,  OR  MANIFOLDS.  315 

of  a  narcotic  nature.  A  sudden  change  from  green  and  succulent 
food  to  that  which  is  hard  and  fibrous  may  also  readily  be  supposed 
to  be  a  very  likely  cause  of  it.  The  strange  fancy  that  induces  many 
cows,  and  especially  those  in  calf,  to  refuse  the  soft  and  nutritious 
food  of  the  pasture  and  browse  on  the  coarse  grass  and  weeds  which 
the  hedges  produce,  will  necessarily  overload  the  raanyplus  with  hard 
and  fibrous  substances.;  and  many  a  beast  has  suffered  in  this  way 
from  being  too  rapidly  and  exclusively  put  on  chaff  of  various  kinds. 

The  symptoms  vary  in  different  animals,  but  the  following  is  an 
outline  of  them :  the  animal  is  evidently  oppressed  ;  the  pulse  is 
somewhat  accelerated  and  hard  ;  the  respiration  not  much  quickened  ; 
the  muzze  dry  ;  the  mouth  hot ;  tho  tongue  protruded,  and  seemingly 
enlarged  ;  the  membrane  both  of  the  eyes  and  nose  injected  ;  the  eye 
protruded  or  weeping  ;  the  head  extended  ;  the  animal  unwillino-  to 
move  ;  the  gait  uncertain  and  staggering  ;  the  urine  generally  voided 
with  difficulty,  and  sometimes  red  and  even  black.  There  is  apparent 
and  obstinate  costiveness,  yet  small  quantities  of  liquid  feeces  are 
discharged.  As  the  disease  proceeds,  and  often  at  an  early  period, 
there  is  evident  determination  of  blood  to  the  head,  evinced  not  only 
by  this  staggering  gait,  but  by  a  degree  of  unconsciousness  ;  the  eyes 
weep  more ;  the  lids  are  swollen ;  the  costiveness  continues  or  some 
hardened  excrement  is  voided,  but  fetid  and  mixed  with  blood  ; 
rumination  ceases  ;  the  secretion  of  milk  is  usually  suspended,  or  the 
milk  becomes  offensive  both  in  taste  and  smell ;  the  urine  flows  more 
abundantly,  but  that  too  continues  of  a  dark  color. 

Many  of  these  symptoms  distinguish  this  complaint  from  dis- 
tension of  the  rumen ;  there  is  not  the  hardness  at  the  flanks, 
and  the  general  swelling  of  the  belly,  which  is  observed  in  disten- 
sion by  food ;  nor  the  greater  distension  and  threatened  suffocation 
which  accompany  hoove.  In  bad*  cases,  and  when  the  symptoms 
take  on  much  of  the  character  of  that  andescribed  and  unintelli- 
gible disease,  wood-evil — trembling  of  tht  frame  generally,  a  deo-ree 
of  palsy,  coldness  of  the  extremities,  actual  swelling  of  the  tongue, 
the  eyes  glaring,  and  the  ears  and  the  tail  being  in  frequent  and 
convulsive  motion — these  are  the  precursors  of  death. 

The  period  of  the  termination  of  the  disease  is  uncertain  ;  it 
extends  ^rom  three  or  four  days  to  more  than  as  many  weeks. 
Many  of  these  symptoms  so  often  accompany  other  diseases,  that 
they  are  utterly  insufficient  always  or  generally  to  lead  to  a  right 
conclusion  as  to  the  nature  of  the  complaint,  and  careful  inquiry 
must  be  made  into  the  history  of  the  case. 

The  treatment  is  as  unsatisfactory  as  the  history  of  the  symptoms. 
It  will  always  be  proper  to  bleed,  in  order  to  diminish  any  existing 
fever,  or  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  that  which  continued  disease 
of  this  important  stomach  would  be  likely  to  produce.  To  this 
should  follow  a  dose  of  physic,  in  order  to  evacuate  the  intestines 


816  CATTLE. 


beyond  the  place  of  obstruction,  and,  by  its  action  on  them,  pos- 
sibly recall  this  viscus  also  to  the  discharge  of  its  healthy  function. 
The  Epsom  salts,  with  half  the  usual  quantity  of  ginger,  will  form 
the  best  purgative  ;  and  it  should  be  administered  either  by  means 
of  a  small  horn,  or  the  pipe  of  the  stomach-pump  introduced  half 
way  down  the  gullet,  and  the  liquid  very  slowly  pumped  in.  By 
this  cautious  method  of  proceeding,  the  pillars  of  the  oesophagean 
canal  will  probably  not  be  forced  open,  and  the  liquid  will  flow  on 
through  the  passage  still  partially  open  at  the  bottom  of  the  many- 
plus,  and  thence  into  the  abomasum.  Of  the  sympathetic  influence 
which  the  establishment  of  increased  action  of  the  intestines  has  on 
the  stomachs  above  in  rousing  them  to  their  wonted  function,  mention 
has  already  been  made  ;  it  is  a  fact  of  much  importance,  and  should 
never  be  forgotten  by  the  practitioner. 

A  consideration  of  the  nature  of  the  disease  will  necessarily  lead 
to  the  next  step.  Either  a  great  quantity  of  food  is  retained  between 
the  leaves  of  the  manyplus  in  a  natural  and  softened  state,  or  it  is 
powerfully  compressed  there,  and  has  become  dry  and  hard.  Now 
the  longer  leaves  of  this  stomach  reach  from  the  roof  almost  or  quite 
to  the  base  of  it,  and  some  of  them  float  in  the  continuation  of  the 
oesophagean  canal  through  which  all  fluids  pass  in  their  way  to  the 
fourth  stomach.  Then  plenty  of  fluid  should  be  made  to  flow 
through  this  canal ;  and  this  may  readily  be  eff'ected  by  the  small 
horn,  or  much  better  by  the  stomach-pump.  An  almost  constant 
current  of  w^arm  water  may  thus  be  kept  up  through  the  canal,  by 
means  of  which  the  food  retained  towards  the  lower  edge  of  the 
leaves,  and  most  obstinately  retained  there  on  account  of  the  hook- 
like form  of  the  papillae,  will  be  gradually  softened  and  washed  out. 
This  wnll  leave  room  for  the  descent  of  more  ;  and  the  natural  action 
of  this  portion  of  the  leaves  being  possibly  re-established,  when 
freed  from  the  weight  and  oppression  of  that  by  which  they  had 
been  filled,  the  mass  that  remains  above  will  begin  to  be  loosened  ; 
it  Avill  gradually  descend  and  be  softened  by  the  stream,  and  it  too 
will  be  carried  ofi":  and  so,  in  process  of  time,  a  great  part  of  the 
stomach  will  be  emptied,  and  the  manifolds  will  be  so  far  relieved  as 
to  be  able  to  renew  its  natural  function. 

Oil  has  been  recommended  for  this  purpose  ;  but  the  hardened  food 
will  be  more  readily  softened  by  warm  water,  than  by  any  oil  that 
can  be  administered.  Some  portion  of  aperient  salt  should  be  dis- 
solved in  the  water,  in  order  that  purgation  may  be  established  as 
soon  as  possible,  or  kept  moderately  up  when  it  is  established  ;  but 
no  heating,  stimulating,  tonic  medicine,  beyond  the  prescribed  pro- 
portion of  aromatic  to  the  purgative,  should  on  any  account  be  given, 
for  it  is  impossible  to  tell  what  inflammatory  action  may  be  going 
forward  in  the  manyplus,  or  to  what  degree  the  spasmodic  contrac- 
tion on  its  contents  may  be  increased.     No  food  should  be  allowed 


DISEASES  OF  THE  ABOMASUM,  OR  FOURTH  STOMACH.        SI'j 

except  soft  or  almost  fluid  mashes,  but  the  animal  may  be  indulged 
in  water  or  thin  gruel  without  limit.  Clysters  can  have  httle  effect, 
and  wuU  only  uselessly  tease  the  animal,  already  sufficiently  annoyed 
by  frequent  drenching. 

After  all,  it  may  be  doubtful  whether  the  injury  and  danger 
produced  by  the  distension  of  the  manifolds  with  food  is  not  some- 
times brought  about  in  a  different  way  from  that  which  has  been 
hitherto  imagined.  This  stomach  has  already  been  described  (p. 
288),  as  situated  obliquely  between  the  liver  and  the  right  sac  of 
the  rumen,  and,  therefore,  when  distended  by  food  it  will  press 
upon  the  liver,  and  impede  the  circulation  through  the  main  ves- 
sel that  returns  the  blood  from  the  intestines  to  the  heart,  and 
thus  cause  the  retention  of  an  undue  quantity  of  blood  in  the 
veins  of  the  abdomen.  From  this  will  naturally  or  almost  neces- 
sarily arise  a  determination  of  blood  to  the  brain,  and  the  winding 
up  of  the  disease  by  a  species  of  apoplexy.  This,  however,  will 
not  alter  the  opinion  that  has  been  given  of  the  proper  treatment 
of  the  disease,  but  will  throw  considerable  light  en  the  nature  and 
causes  of  some  of  these  determinations  to  the  head,  which  have  not 
hitherto  been  perfectly  understood. 

THE    DISEASES    OF    THE    ABOMASUM,  OR    FOURTH    STOMACH. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  nature,  and  symptoms,  and  treatment  of 
these  diseases  is  as  imperfect  as  those  of  the  manyplus.  Concretions, 
and  mostly  of  hair,  are  occasionally  found  in  this  stomach,  which,  by 
their  pressure,  must  produce^  disease  to  a  certain  extent.  Poisonous 
substances,  received  into  this  stomach  after  rumination,  as  is  some- 
times the  case  when  the  plants  are  fully  grown,  from  the  deficiency 
of  acute  taste  in  the  ox,  and  which  oftener  happens  when,  in  spring, 
neither  their  taste  nor  their  smell  is  developed,  produce  inflammation 
and  ulceration  of  the  coats  of  the  abomasum.  Inflammation  may 
and  does  exist  from  other  causes,  as  exposure  to  too  great  heat,  and 
the  continuance  of  unseasonable  cold  and  wet  weather,  too  sudden 
change  of  food,  the  administration  of  acrid  and  stimulating  medicines  : 
but  the  practitioner  can  rarely  distinguish  them  from  inflammatory 
disease  of  the  other  stomachs,  or  of  the  intestinal  canal. 

So  far  as  the  symptoms  can  be  arranged,  they  are  nearly  the  fol- 
lowing :  there  is  fever  ;  a  full  and  hard  pulse  at  the  commencement, 
but  rapidly  changing  its  character  and  becoming  small,  verj'  irregu- 
lar, intermittent,  and,  at  last,  scarcely  to  be  felt  except  at  the  heart. 
The  beast  is  much  depressed  and  almost  always  lying  down,  with  its 
head  turned  towards  its  side,  and  its  muzzle,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
resting  on  the  place  beneath  which  the  fourth  stomach  would  be 
found,  or  when  standing,  it  is  curiously  stretching  out  its  fore  hrabs, 
with  its  brisket  almost  to  the  ground.     The  inspirations  are  deep, 


818  CATTLfi. 


interrupted  by  sighing,  moaning,  grinding  of  the  teeth,  and  occa- 
sionally by  hiccup  ;  the  tongue  is  dry  and  fuiTcd,  and  red  around 
its  edges  and  at  the  tip  ;  the  belly  generally  is  swelled,  more  so 
than  in  the  distension  of  the  rumen  by  food,  but  less  so  than  in  hoove, 
and,  as  further  distinguishing  the  case  from  both,  it  is  exceedingly 
tender ;  there  is  frequently  distressing  tenesmus,  and  the  urine  is 
voided  with  difficulty,  and  drop  by  drop.  After  death,  the  stomach 
exhibits  much  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane,  but  very  seldom 
any  ulceration. 

The  remedies  would  be  bleeding,  purgatives,  mashes,  and  gruel. 

It  is  almost  useless  to  dwell  longer  on  this  unsatisfactory  portion 
of  the  subject,  except  to  warn  the  practitioner  against  being  misled 
by  the  peculiar  softness  of  the  inner  lining  membrane  of  the  fourth 
stomach  of  the  ox.  That  which  would  be  said  to  be  diseased 
condition,  or  softening,  or  even  decomposition  of  the  inner  coat  of 
the  stomach  in  other  animals,  is  the  natural  state  of  the  abomasum 
in  cattle. 

Homeopathic  trs'itment. — The  treatment  should  be  commenced  by 
some  doses  of  a^onitum,  at  short  intervals,  after  which  the  true 
specific  is  arsenicum,  two  doses  of  which  are  almost  always  sufficient. 
Ocirho  vegetahilis  also  at  times  renders  great  service. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE   ANATOMY  AND  DISEASES   OF  THE    SPLEEN,  LIVER,  AND 

PANCREAS. 

THE    SPLEEN. 

The  spleen,  or  melt,  is  a  long,  thin,  dark-colored  substance,  situated 
on  the  left  side,  attached  to  the  rumen,  and  between  that  stomach 
and  the  diaphragm.  It  is  closely  tied  to  the  stomach  by  blood' 
vessels,  and  cellular  texture.  It  is  of  a  uniform  size  through  its  whole 
extent,  except  that  it  is  rounded  at  both  ends.  Of  its  use  we  are,  in 
a  manner,  ignorant ;  it  has  been  removed  without  any  apparent  injury 
to  digestion.  Its  artery  is  large  and  tortuous,  and  its  vein  is  of  great 
size,  and  forms  a  considerable  portion  of  that  which  conveys  the  blood 
from  the  other  contents  of  the  abdomen  to  the  liver.  It  is  probably 
connected  either  with  the  functions  of  the  liver,  or  with  the  supply 
of  some  principle  essential  to  the  blood. 

It  is  subject  to  various  diseases,  inflammation,  ulceration,  increased 
size,  tubercles,  hydatids,  ossification  ;  but  in  the  present  state  of  cat- 
tle medicine  it  is  impossible  to  state  the  symptoms  by  which  the 
greater  part  of  these  are  characteriaed. 

The  occasional  seat  of  disease,  tlie  spleen,  and  which  is  found  most 
especially  to  have  suffered,  is  too  frequently  overlooked.  A  beast  in 
high  condition,  over- driven,  or  placed  in  too  luxuriant  pasture,  is 
suddenly  taken  ill ;  he  staggers ;  his  respiration  becomes  laborious  ; 
his  mouth  is  covered  with  foam ;  the  tongue  burns  ;  he  stands  with 
his  head  stretched  out,  laboring  for  breath  ;  he  moans  ;  blood  escapes 
from  the  nostrils  or  the  anus  ;  the  disease  runs  its  course  in  the 
space  of  a  few  hours,  and  the  animal  dies.  On  opening  him,  the 
vessels  beneath  the  skin  are  all  gorged  with  blood  ;  the  skin  itself  is 
injected  and  red ;  the  lungs  and  abdominal  viscera  are  congested 
with  blood  ;  the  liver  is  gorged  with  it.  It  is  inflammatory  fever 
that  has  destroyed  the  animal ;  but  the  speen  is  most  of  all  aff'ected 
and  disorganized — it  is  augmented  in  size,  softened,  its  peritoneal 
covering  torn,  and  blood  has  rushed  from  it  and  filled  the  belly ;  or 
the  blood  has  oozed  through  the  investment  without  any  visible 
rupture. 

In  such  a  malady,  the  skill  of  the  practitioner  can  be  of  little  avaih 
Had  the  peculiar  determination  of  disease  to  the  spleen  been  dis- 
covered, it  could   not  have   been  arrested ;    and  all   that  can  be 


320  CATTLE. 

obtained  is  a  lesson  of  wisdom  ;  a  caution  to  adopt  a  more  equable 
and  less  forcing  system  of  feeding,  and  the  avoidance  of  all  those 
causes  of  general  inflammation  in  which  the  weakest  orsran  suffers 
most,  and  by  its  disorganization,  causes,  or,  at  all  events,  hastens, 
death. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — At  the  onset,  aconitum  should  be  pre- 
scribed in  repeated  doses,  which  often  suffices  to  arrest  the  disease. 
If  this  result  be  not  attained,  and  the  brown  color  of  the  tongue 
increases,  we  are  to  have  recourse  to  arsenicum.  If  nervous  symp- 
toms are  observed,  the  animal  making  deep  inspirations,  during  which 
it  shakes  the  entire  body,  hryonia  is  to  be  employed  alternately  with 
aconitiun.  Nux  vomica,  which  is  also  to  be  alternated  with  aconitum, 
is  indicated  when  the  splenic  region  is  very  painful  to  the  touch,  and 
the  animal  frequently  looks  towards  it.  Laurocerasus  has  proved 
useful  in  a  very  obstinate  case,  where  the  pulse  was  small,  the  eye 
fixed,  the  head  directed  upward,  and  the  animal  insensible,  with  the 
exception  of  some  convulsive  movements,  when  the  affected  part  was 
touched. 

THE    LIVER. 

This  organ  is  situated  on  the  right  side  of  the  abdomeia,  between 
the  manyplus  and  the  diaphragm.  It  is  principally  supported  by  a 
duplicature  of  peritoneum  extending  from  the  spine ;  and  is  confined 
in  its  situatiori"  by  other  ligaments,  or  similar  peritoneal  duplicature 
connecting  its  separate  lobes  or  divisions  with  the  diaphragm.  It  is 
divided  into  two  lobes  of  unequal  size.  The  right  lobe  is  the  larger ; 
the  smaller  one  is  comparatively  diminutiv^e. 

The  blood  from  the  other  contents  of  the  abdomen,  instead  of 
flowing  directly  to  the  heart,  passes  through  the  liver.  It  enters  by 
two  large  vessels,  and  is  spread  through  every  part  of  the  liver  by 
means  of  the  almost  innumerable  branches  into  which  these  vessels 
divide.  As  it  passes  through  the  liver,  a  fluid  is  secreted  from  it, 
called  the  bile,  probably  a  kind  of  excrement,  the  continuance  of 
which  in  the  blood  would  be  injurious,  but  which,  at  the  same  time, 
answers  a  peculiar  purpose  in  the  process  of  digestion. 

The  bile  thus  secreted  flows  into  the  intestines,  and  enters  the 
duodenum  thtough  an  orifice,  the  situation  of  which  is  marked  out 
by  A,  p.  291.  It  flows  into  the  intestines  as  fast  as  it  is  secreted  or 
separated  from  the  blood  ;  a  portion  of  it,  probably  a  comparatively 
small  portion,  however,  is  received  into  a  reservoir,  the  c/all-bladder, 
where  it  is  retained  until  needed  for  the  purpose  of  digestion.  While 
the  ox  is  grazing  or  asleep,  there  is  no  necessity  for  the  whole  of  the 
bile  to  run  on  into  the  intestines,  but  a  part  of  it  accumulates  in  the 
gall-bladder.  While  it  is  retained  there,  it  undergoes  some  change  ; 
part  of  the  water  which  it  contains  is  absorbed,  and  the  residue 
becomes  thickened,  and  more  efi"ectiTe  in  its  operation  ;  and  when  the 


INFLAMMATION   OF  TH^  LIVER.  821 

animal  begins  to  ruminate,  and  portions  of  food  pass  through  the 
fourth  and  true  stomach  into  the  duodenum,  not  only  is  the  flow  of 
bile  into  the  gall-bladder  stopped,  but,  either  by  some  mechanical 
pressure  on  that  vessel  which  no  one  has  yet  explained,  or,  more 
probably,  by  the  sympathy  which  exists  among  all  the  organs  of 
digestion,  and  the  influence  of  the  gieat  organic  nerve  causino-  the 
(probably)  muscular  coat  of  the  vessel  to  contract,  the  bile  flows  out 
of  its  resorvoir,  and  proceeds  to  its  ultimate  destination,  along  with 
the  portion  which  continues  to  run  directly  from  the  liver  into  the 
intestine,  through  the  medium  of  the  hepatic  duct.  This  pear-shaped 
reser^^oir,  the  gall-bladder,  is  placed  in  a  depression  in  the  posterior 
face  of  the  liver,  and  adheres  to  it  by  means  of  a  delicate  cellular 
texture.  The  construction  of  this  vessel  deserves  attention.  It  has 
the  same  external  peritoneal  coat  with  the  viscera  generally  ;  beneath 
is  a  thicker  coat,  evidently  composed  of  cellular  substance,  in  which 
no  muscular  fibres  have  ye*  been  demonstratively  traced,  but  in  which 
they  may  be  well  conceivea  *o  exist,  and  in  which,  doubtless,  they  do 
exist,  in  order  to  enable  the  gall-bladder  to  contract  and  expel  its 
contents.  The  inner  coat  is  a  very  singular  one.  It  has  not  precisely 
the  honeycomb  cells  of  the  reticulum  in  miniature,  but  it  is  divided 
into  numerous  cells  of  very  irregular  and  different  shapes,  in  the  base 
of  which,  as  in  the  cells  of  tiie  reticulum,  are  minute  follicular  glands 
that  secrete  a  mucous  fluid  to  defend  the  internal  surface  of  the  gall- 
bladder from  the  acrimony  of  the  bile  which  it  contains. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    LIVER. 

Cattle,  and  especially  those  that  are  stall-fed,  are  subject  to  inflam- 
mation of  the  liver.  This  appears  evident  enough  on  examination 
after  death,  but  the  symptoms  during  life  are  exceedingly  obscure, 
and  not  to  be  depended  upon.  An  almost  invariable  one,  however, 
is  yellowness  of  the  eyes  and  skin ;  but  this  accompanies,  or  is  the 
chief  c'haracteristic  of,  obstruction  of  the  biliary  duct,  and  possibly 
exists  without  the  slightest  inflammation  of  the  substance  of  the  liver. 
It  should  also  be  remembered  that  there  is  scarcely  any  acute  disease 
to  which  cattle  are  subject,  in  which  the  liver  does  not  sympathize. 
-  Bile  is  secreted  in  great  abundance  in  a  hea^.thy  state  of  the  animal, 
and  its  secretion  is  very  much  increased  under  almost  every  intestinal 
disease,  on  account  of  the  sympathy  which  exists  between  the  Hver 
and  the  other  organs  of  digestion.  The  feeding  too  much  on  oil-cake 
will  produce  in  most  cattle  a  yellowness  of  the  skin  during  life,  and 
a  yellow  tinge  of  the  fat  and  the  envelopes  of  the  muscles  after  death. 

In  addition  to  the  common  symptoms  of  fever,  (quickness  of  the 

pulse,  heaving,  dryness  of  the  muzzle,  heat  of  the  mouth  and  root  of 

the  horn,  listless  or  suspended  rumination,)  those  that  would  lead  to 

the  suspicion  of  inflammation  of  the  liver  would  be,  lying  continually 

14* 


322  CATTLE. 


on  the  right  side,  slight  spasms  on  that  side,  or  wavy  motions  of  the 
skin  over  the  region  of  the  hver — a  general  fullness  of  the  belly,  but 
most  referable  to  the  right  side,  and  the  expression  of  considerable 
pain  when  pressure  is  made  on  that  side.  Occasionally,  the  animal 
looks  round  on  this  part,  and  endeavors  to  rest  his  muzzle  upon  it. 
There  is  usuall}^  some  degree  of  constipation ;  the  beast  does  not 
urinate  so  often  or  so  abundantly  as  in  health,  and  the  urine  is  yellow 
or  brown,  or,  in  a  few  cases,  bloody. 

The  proper  remedies  are  bleeding,  physic,  blisters  on  the  right 
side,  and  restricted  diet,  from  which  everything  of  a  stimulating 
kind  is  carefully  withdrawn.  The  most  frequent  causes  of  this  com- 
plaint are  blows,  over-driving,  the  use  of  too  stimulating  food,  and 
the  sudden  suppression  of  some  cutaneous  disease. 

Inflammation  of  the  liver  sometimes  takes  on  a  chronic  form. 
Perhaps  it  never  assumed  any  great  degree  of  intensity,  or  the  intense 
inflammation  was  palliated,  but  not  removed  ;  and  this  state  may 
exist  for  some  months,  or  years,  not  characterized  by  any  decided 
symptom,  and  but  little  interfering  with  health.  Then  commences 
induration,  or  hardening  of  a  portion  of  the  liver,  or  of  the  greater 
part  of  it,  and  accompanied  by  tubercles,  vomicae,  hydatids,  and  the 
existence  of  the  fluke-worm  in  the  ducts. 

The  difficulty  of  detecting  this  chronic  inflammation  during  the 
/ife  of  the  animal  throws  much  obscurity  on  the  mode  of  treating  it. 
Permanent  yellowness  of  the  skin — a  constant  but  not  violent 
cough — and  the  want  of,  or  the  slowness  in  acquiring,  condition  be- 
yond a  certain  degree,  would  be  the  symptoms  of  most  frequent 
occurrence.  The  treatment  should  consist  of  the  frequent  exhibition 
of  gentle  purgatives,  with  a  more  than  the  usual  quantity  of  the  aro- 
matic (six  ounces  of  Epsom  salts,  and  half  an  ounce  of  ginger,)  and 
the  food  should  be  green,  succulent,  and  as  little  stimulating  as  pos- 
sible. Mercury,  to  which  recourse  is  usually  had,  when  a  similar 
complaint  is  suspected  to  exist  in  the  human  subject,  would  be  worse 
than  thrown  away  upon  cattle.  In  the  majority  of  cases  in  which 
it  is  used  for  the  diseases  of  cattle,  it  produces  decidedly  injurious 
effect. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  principal  remedies  are  aconitvm  at 
first,  then  nux  vomica  alternately  with  mercurius  vivus.  Murias 
magnesicB  also  deserves  to  be  specially  recommended.  If  the  symp- 
toms of  jaundice  predominate,  chamomilla  and  mercurius  vivus  should 
be  employed,  and  when  hard  faeces  predominate,  nux  vomica  and 
hryonia.  Lycopodium  is  useful  in  rhronic  cases,  in  the  same  manner 
as  when  there  are  colics  which  disappear  as  long  as  the  animal  re- 
mains lying  down  on  the  left  side. 

HEMORRHAGE  FROM  THE  LIVER. 

It  has  already  beer,  observed  that  when  these  animals  are  turned 


JAUNDICE,  OR  THE  YELLCWS.  323 

on  the  fresh  grass  in  the  spring,  or  the  fog  in  autumn,  they  are  subject 
to  various  plethoric  or  intlammatory  complaints.  The  ravages  of 
apoplexy  and  inflammatory  fever  at  these  times  have  been  described. 
An  undue  quantity  of  blood  rapidly  formed  oppresses  the  whole 
system,  and,  from  some  cause  of  determination  to  it,  a  particular 
organ  or  part  becomes  violently  congested  or  inflamed,  and  the  ani- 
mal is  destroyed.     The  liver  occasionally  suffers  in  this  way. 

A  heifer  died,  and  on  opening  the  belly,  the  cavity  was  found  to 
contain  nearly  six  gallons  of  blood,  which  had  escaped  from  a  rup- 
ture, two  inches  in  length,  in  one  of  the  lobes  of  the  liver. 

Certain  beasts  have  died  of  some  obscure  disease  ;  it  has  been  rapid 
in  its  progress,  and  not  characterized  by  any  symptoms  of  great  in- 
flammation, or  the  inflammatory  symptoms,  if  such  had  appeared, 
have  subsided,  and  those  of  evident  and  extreme  exhaustion  have 
succeeded.  The  pulse  has  been  feeble,  or  almost  indistinct — the 
mouth  has  been  cold — the  membranes  of  the  mouth  and  nose  pale. 
The  breathing  has  been  accelerated,  and  the  weakness  extreme. 
After  death,  the  substance  of  the  liver  has  been  found  softened  ;  it 
has  broken  on  the  slightest  handling ;  it  may  be  washed  away,  and 
the  various  vessels  which  permeate  it  exposed :  the  peritoneal  cover- 
ing has  been  loosened — elevated  from  the  liver — and  the  interval  has 
been  occupied  by  a  clot  of  blood  ;  and  from  some  rupture  in  this 
covering,  which  has  partaken  of  the  softening  of  the  viscus  itself,  a 
quantity  of  blood  has  been  poured  out ;  or  it  has  oozed  through  the 
covering,  and  partially  or  almost  entirely  filled  the  cavity  of  the  ab- 
domen. 

In  such  a  case,  the  resources  of  medical  art  would  be  powerless  ; 
but  every  instance  of  haemorrhage  from  the  liver  should  be  regarded 
as  a  warning  against  the  adoption  of  too  forcing  a  system  of  fatten- 
ing, especially  in  young  beasts,  and  in  the  spring  or  fall  of  the 
year. 

JAUNDICE,  OR  THE  YELLOWS. 

There  are  few  diseases  to  which  cattle  are  so  frequently  subject, 
or  which  are  so  difficult  to  treat,  as  jaundice,  commonly  known  by 
the  appropriate  name  of  the  yellows.  It  is  characterized  by  a  yellow 
color  of  the  eyes,  the  skin  generally,  and  the  urine.  Its  appearance 
is  sometimes  sudden  ;  at  other  times  the  yellow  tint  gradually  ap- 
pears and  deepens.  In  some  cases  it  seems  to  be  attended,  for  a 
while,  by  little  pain  or  inconvenience,  or  impairment  of  condition  ;  in 
others,  its  commencement  is  announced  by  an  evident  state  of  gene- 
ral irritation  and  fever,  and  particidarly  by  quickness  and  hardness  of 
pulse,  heaving  of  the  flanks,  excessive  thirst,  and  the  suspension  ot 
rumination ;  tc  these  rapidly  succeed  depression  of  spirits,  and  loss 
of  appetite,  strength,  and  condition.  The  animals  can  scarcely  be 
induced  to  move,  or  they  separate  themsalves  from  the  herd,  and 


gZi  CATTLE. 


retiring  to  the  fence,  either  slowly  pace  along  the  side  of  it,  or  stand 
hour  after  hour,  listless  and  half  unconscious.  Not  .nls^  the  skin, 
but  the  very  hair,  gradually  becomes  yellow  ;  a  scaly  eruption  ap- 
pears, attended  by  extreme  itching,  and  sometimes  degenerating  into 
the  worst  species  of  mange.  It  is  seldom,  indeed,  that  bad  mange 
appears  among  cattle  without  being  accompanied  by  a  yellow  skin  ; 
and  the  cutaneous  eruption  was  probably  caused  by  the  presence 
and  constant  excretion  of  bile  irritating  the  exhalent  vessels  of  the 
skin.  A  state  of  costiveness  usually  accompanies  the  yellow  skin,  at 
least  in  the  early  period  of  the  disease,  although  diarrhoea,  which  no 
astringents  will  subdue,  may  afterwards  appear,  and,  in  fact,  will 
generally  wind  up  the  affair,  and  carry  the  patient  off.  Jaundice 
cannot  long  exist  without  being  accompanied  by  general  impairment 
of  health  and  loss  of  condition.  Cows  are  particularly  subject  to  it 
in  spring  and  autumn.  The  milk  soon  shares  in  the  yellowness  of 
the  other  secretions,  and  occasionally  acquires  an  unpleasant  and 
bitter  taste. 

The  usual  cause  of  jaundice  is  obstruction  of  the  passage  of  the 
bile  from  the  gall-bladder  into  the  duodenum.  This  obstruction  is 
effected  in  various  ways  ;  but  most  frequently  by  biliary  concretions, 
calculi,  or  gall-stones.  During  the  continuance  of  the  bile  in  the 
gall-bladder,  a  certain  portion  of  the  water  which  it  contains  is  re- 
moved by  the  process  of  absorption  ;  the  residue  becomes  propor- 
tionably  thickened,  and  the  most  solid  parts  are  either  precipitated, 
or  form  themselves  into  hard  masses.  Biliary  calculi  are  not  unfre- 
quently  found  in  the  gall-bladder  of  cattle,  of  varying  size,  from  that 
of  a  pin's  head  to  a  large  walnut.  Their  form  indicates  that  they 
were  composed  by  some  process  of  crystallization ;  they  are  round, 
with  concentric  circles,  or  conical,  or  assuming  in  a  rude  way  the 
form  of  a  cube,  or  a  pentagon,  or  hexagon.  There  is  usually  some 
central  portion  of  harder  bile  round  which  the  rest  is  collected.  They 
are  of  less  specific  gravity  than  the  bile,  and  even  than  water,  and 
are  found  swimming  in  the  gall-bladder.  They  are  composed  of  the 
yellow  matter  of  the  bile,  with  a  portion  of  mucus  holding  it  to- 
gether. It  is  insoluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  but  it  readily  diffuses 
kself  in  a  solution  of  potash. 

So  far  as  can  be  observed,  the  presence  of  these  calculi  in  the  gall- 
bladder does  not  inconvenience  the  animal,  or  interfere  with  healt!i, 
for  thev  are  found  in  s^reat  numbers  of  slauQ-htered  oxen.  At  all 
events,  there  are  no  recognized  symptoms  by  which  their  presence 
can  be  detected,  or  even  suspected.  In  some  cases  the  writer  of 
this  work  has  detected  more  than  a  hundred  small  calculi  in  the 
bladder  of  one  ox. 

Sometimes,  however,  they  enter  the  duct  (the  cystic)  which  con- 
veys the  bile  to  the  intestines.  They  are  likely  to  do  this  on  accounj; 
of  their  swimming  on  the  surface  of  the  fluid  which  the  gall-bladde/ 


JAUNDICE,  OR  THE  YELLOWa  828 

contains.  The  cystic  duct  is  large  at  its  union  with  the  bladder  ;  it  is 
a  continuation  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder ;  and  the  gall-stone  may- 
be easily  pressed  into  the  commencement  of  the  tube  :  but  it  has 
scarcely  entered  it  before  its  passage  is  obstructed  by  the  folds  of  the 
inner  coat  of  of  the  duct.  These  assume  a  semilunar  form,  with  the 
edges  projecting  toward  the  bladder,  and  they  act  as  partial  valves, 
retarding  the  progress  of  the  bile,  so  that  it  may  not  be  all  pressed 
out  at  once,  but  gradually  escape  as  the  process  of  digestion  may 
require. 

The  gall-stone  being  thus  impacted,  violent  spasmodic  action  takes 
place  in  the  muscles  of  the  duct,  occasioned  by  the  irritation  of  its 
continued  pressure.  It  is  fortunate,  however,  that,  although  the 
muscles  of  these  ducts  act  with  some  power,  the  obstruction  is  usu- 
ally with  no  great  difficulty  overcome.  The  duct  distends  ;  as  it 
distends,  these  valvular  folds  lie  closer  to  the  sides,  and  no  longer 
oppose  the  passage  of  the  calculus,  which  is  pressed  on  until  it 
reaches  the  common  duct.  The  caliber  of  this  tube  is  larger,  and, 
unless  the  calculus  is  of  considerable  bulk,  no  farther  difficulty  occurs 
until  it  reaches  the  opening  into  the  duodenum,  which  being  situated 
in  the  centre  of  a  muscular  prominence,  acting  as  a  valve,  and  pre- 
venting the  passege  of  all  matters  whether  fluid  or  sohd  from  the 
intestine  into  the  ducts,  a  new  difficulty  is  opposed  to  the  pro- 
gress of  the  gall-stones,  and  there  is  some  return  of  pain,  and  in 
a  few  cases  the  pain  is  evidently  more  intense  than  in  the  early 
stage.  At  length  this  sphincter  muscle  of  the  duodenum  dilates  ; 
the  calculus  enters  the  intestinal  canal ;  the  pain  ceases,  and  the 
natural  color  of  the  skin  returns.  In  this  species  of  jaundice,  we 
have,  in  addition  to  the  yellow  skin,  the  heaving  of  the  flanks,  the 
hard  concentrated  pulse,  the  diminished  appetite,  the  insatiable  thirst, 
and  the  other  symptoms  of  fever.  Then,  too,  we  have  the  alter- 
nate coldness  and  heat  of  the  ears,  the  roughness  of  the  coat,  the 
urine  becoming  first  of  a  transparent  yellow,  and  then  opaque  red, 
saffron-colored,  or  brown,  and  the  sediment  brown.  The  bowels 
are  constipated,  the  faeces  seldom  evacuated,  and,  when  appearing, 
are  hard  and  black. 

Bleeding  is  now  clealy  indicated,  and  that  until  the  animal  be- 
comes faint.  During  this  partial  sympathy,  the  muscles  of  the  duct 
may  cease  their  spasmodic  constriction,  and  the  calculus  may  pass 
on.  To  this  should  be  added  powerful  purgation,  consisting  of  doses 
of  a  pound  and  a  half  each  of  Epsom  salts,  or  of  a  pound  of  the 
salts,  with  ten  grains  of  the  Croton  Tiglii ;  the  medicine  being  re- 
peated once  in  six  hours,  until  purging  is  produced.  Mashes  should 
be  given,  to  hasten  and  increase  the  action  of  the  physic,  and  the 
beast  should,  if  possible,  be  turned  out  to  grass  during  the  day,  and 
taken  up  at  night."  Opium  or  digitalis,  and  particularly  the  latter, 
may  be  given,  in  dos^  of  half  a  drachm  of  either,  with  a  view  to 


CATTLE. 


allay  the  violent  constriction  of  the  duct.  From  the  knowledge  that 
bihary  concretions  dissolve  in  a  solution  of  potash,  considerable  quan- 
tities of  nitrate  and  acetate  of  potash  have  been  given,  but  with 
doubtful  success.  Ether,  hydrochlofate  of  ammonia,  potash,  and 
soda,  have  also  been  fruitlessly  administered  for  the  same  purpose. 

Anothsr  mechanical  cause  of  jaundice  may  be  the  obstruction 
formed  by  the  fasciola  or  Jluke-ivorm.  This  singular  parasite,  resem- 
bling in  form  a  little  sole,  and  of  the  natural  history  of  which,  or  of 
the  changes  that  it  has  undergone,  or  may  undergo,  nothing  is  known, 
is  found 'in  the  hvers  of  cattle,  and  especially  of  those  that  are  bred 
in  low  and  marshy  situations.  They  accompany  almost  every  chronic 
disease  of  the  liver,  and  often  exist  in  the  healthy  animal.  They 
inhabit  the  ducts  into  which  the  bile  is  poured  from  the  smaller 
vessels  of  the  liver — they  are  swimming  in  the  bile,  and  said  to  be 
generally  found  working  their  way  against  the  course  of  that  fluid. 

There  is  no  case  on  record  in  which  it  has  been  proved  by  exami- 
nation after  death  that  the  fluke- worm  has  mechanically  obstructed 
the  passage  of  the  bile,  and  thus  caused  both  the  yellowness  and  the 
spasm,  yet  it  can  easily  be  imagined  that  this  Avill  sometimes  occur. 
There. are  no  peculiar  symptoms  to  indicate  the  existence  of  these 
worms,  for  they  have  never  been  voided  from  the  mouth  or  the 
anus : — to  the  first,  there  would  be  a  mechanical  impediment  from 
the  construction  of  both  the  low^er  and  upper  orifices  of  the  stomach  ; 
and  the  digestive  process  going  on  through  the  w^hole  of  the  intesti- 
nal canal  would  render  the  latter  improbable,  if  not  impossible. 
Their  presence  could  only  be  guessed  at  from  the  nature  of  the  pas- 
ture, or  from  their  having  been  found  in  other  beasts  of  the  same 
herd. 

The  same  means  would  be  adopted  as  in  supposed  obstruction  by 
a  calculus,  but  with  this  probable  difference,  that  the  obstruction 
would  be  more  easily  and  quickly  removed. 

Of  the  other  species  of  jaundice  in  which  the  attack  is  more 
gradual,  and  apparently  unconnected  with  pain,  and  in  which  the 
symptoms  are  weakness,  listlessness,  cedematous  swellings,  high- 
colored  urine,  hardened  excrement,  declining  condition,  and  occa- 
sional death,  anatomical  observation  has  discovered  various  causes. 
The  state  of  the  liver  itself  will  sometimes  account  for  every  symp- 
tom. It  may  labor  under  chronic  inflammation,  without  disorganiza- 
tion, and  the  secretion  of  bile  will  be  considerably  increased,  and 
produced  more  rapidly  than  the  ducts  can  carry  it  off,  or  than  it 
can  be  disposed  of  in  the  process  of  digestion,  and  it  w^ould  lurk  in 
the  intestines,  and  be  taken  up  by  the  absorbents  and  carried  into 
the  circulation.  At  other  times  the  diseased  state  of  the  liver  pre- 
vents the  escape  of  the  bile,  whether  in  its  natural^^or  even  diminished 
quantity ;  thus,  general  enlaigement  of  the  substance  of  the  liver 
AY  ill  press  upon  and  partially  close  the  biliary  ducts — tubercles,  ot 


JAUNDICE,  OR  THE  YELLOWS. 


other  tumors  in  the  liver  will  effect  the  same  thing.  Inflammation 
may  exist  in  the  ducts  themselves.  They  may  become  thickened  or 
ulcerated,  and  thus  cease  to  give  passage  to  the  bile,  which  will  then 
be  taken  up  by  the  absorbents  of  the  liver,  or  mechanically  forced 
back  upon  the  vessels  whence  it  was  secreted.  These  are  occasional 
causes  of  jaundice ;  and  when  they  exist  it  will  not  be  wondered 
at  that  the  complaint  is  obstinate,  and  too  often  fatal. 

Sometimes  the  source  of  the  evil  may  exist  in  the  duodenum.  It 
may  be  inflamed  or  ulcerated,  or  thickened,  and  so  the  opening  from 
the  biliary  duct  into  the  intestine  may  be  closed  :  or  the  mucus 
which  may  be  secreted  in  the  duodenum  may  be  too  abundant,  or 
of  too  viscid  a  character,  and  thus  also  the  orifice  may  be  mechani- 
cally obstructed. 

What  symptom  will  indicate  to  the  practitioner  which  of  these 
morbid  states  of  the  liver  or  its  ducts,  or  if  the  first  intestine,  is  the 
cause  of  the  disease  ?  or  if  it  did,  what  means  could  he  adopt  in 
such  a  case  with  the  hope  of  ultimate  success  ?  The  treatment  of 
confirmed  jaundice  is  a  thankless  and  disheartening  business.  The 
practitioner,  however,  must  look  carefully  and  anxiously  to  the  symp- 
toms, and  be  guided  by  them.  There  is  no  general  rule  to  direct  him 
here.  If  there  is  evident  fever,  he  must  bleed,  and  regulate  his  ab- 
straction of  blood  by  the  apparent  degree  of  fever.  In  every  case 
but  that  of  diarrhoea,  and  at  the  commencement  of  that,  he  must 
administer  purgatives — in  large  doses  when  fever  is  present,  or  in 
somewhat  smaller  quantities,  but  more  frequently  repeated,  when 
constipation  is  observed  ;  and  in  doses  still  smaller,  but  yet  sufficient 
to  excite  a  moderate  and  yet  continued  purgative  action,  when  nei- 
ther fever  nor  constipation  exists.  Considering,  however,  the  natural 
temperament  of  cattle,  the  purgative  should  be  accompanied  by  a 
more  than  usual  quantity  of  the  aromatic,  unless  the  degree  of  fever 
should  plainly  forbid  it.  There  are  few  things  respecting  which 
veterinary  practitioners  differ  more  than  the  kind  of  purgative  that 
should  be  administered  in  this  case.  Some,  who  are  usually  partial 
to  the  Epsom  or  Glauber's  salts,  here  prefer  the  aloes. 

It  may  not,  perhaps,  be  quite  a  matter  of  indifference  what  purga- 
tive is  administered.  The  Epsom  salts  here,  as  in  other  cases,  is  the 
safest,  the  most  to  be  depended  upon,  and  the  most  effective  :  but 
the  secret  of  treating  jaundice,  not  with  the  almost  invariable  suc- 
cess of  which  some  speak,  but  with  the  best  prospect  of  doing  good, 
is  by  the  repetition  of  mild  purgatives,  accompanied,  and  their  power 
increased,  and  the  digestive  powers  of  the  animal  roused,  and  his 
strength  supported  by  the  addition  of  aromatics  and  stomachics,  in 
such  doses  as  the  slight  degree,  or  the  absence,  of  fever  ma}-  indi- 
cate. The  author  certainly  cannot  confirm  by  his  testimony  the 
opinion  of  the  comparative  ease  with  which  the  complaint  may  be 
removed  :  he  Las  not  only  found  it  to  be  one  of  the  most  common 


328  CATTLE. 

affections  of  the  liver,  but  one  of  the  most  untractable  and  fatal ;  and 
this  from  the  insidious  manner  in  which  it  proceeds  until  it  lias  fixed 
itself  on  the  constitution  beyond  the  power  of  medicine  to  remove  it. 
The  following  short  directions  comprise  all  that  can  be  done  : — sub- 
due the  inflammation  or  fever  by  bleeding  and  physic  ; — keep  the 
bowels  afterwards  under  the  mild  but  evident  influence  of  purgative 
medicine ; — add  aromatics  and  stomachics  to  tiie  medicine  almost 
from  the  beginning ;  to  these,  if  the  strength  and  condition  of  the 
animal  should  appear  to  be  wasting,  add  tonics — the  gentian  root 
will  stand  at  the  head  of  them  ; — and  lastly,  when  the  disease  has 
been  apparently  subdued,  a  few  tonic  drinks  will  restore  the  appe- 
tite, prepare  for  the  regaining  of  condition,  and  re-establish  the  secre- 
tion of  milk. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  chief  remedies  to  be  employed  are : 
mercurius  viviis,  nux  vomica,  and  chamomilla.  Arsenicum  is  employ- 
ed, if  rumination  be  suppressed  ;  and  lycopodium,  if  there  be  cough. 
Mercurius  soluhilis  is,  i1  is  said,  specific  when  the  stools  are  whitish, 
as  sometimes  happens  in  acute  jaundice.  Sulphur  has  more  than 
once  sufficed  to  remove  the  disease. 

THE    PANCREAS. 

This  is  a  long,  irregularly  formed,  flattened  gland,  confined  to  the 
left  side  of  the  abdomen,  in  the  neighborhood  of,  but  not  adhering 
to,  the  fourth  stomach,  and  mostly  connected  with  the  duodenum 
and  colon,  by  mesenteric  attachments.  It  is  of  a  pale  red  color,  and 
evidentlv  composed  of  an  accumulation  of  small  glands,  resembling 
salivary  ones  :  each  of  them  is  a  secreting  gland,  and  a  duct  proceeds 
from  each  ; — these  unite  and  form  one  common  canal,  which  takes  its 
course  towards  the  duodenum,  unites  itself  with  the  biliary  duct, 
already  described,  and  enters  with  it  into  the  duodenum,  as  repre- 
sented at  h,  in  the  cut  in  p.  291. 

This  gland  appears  to  be  subject  to  very  few  diseases,  and  the 
symptoms  of  these  diseases  are,  in  the  present  state  of  knowledge  of 
the  pathology  of  cattle,  very  imperfectly  known.  In  a  few  instances, 
enlargement  of  the  pancreas  has  been  found  after  death  ;  at  other 
times,  there  have  been  inflammation,  tubercles,  a  schirrous  induration, 
and  considerable  abscess  ;  but  there  were  no  previous  symptoms  to 
lead  to  the  suspicion  that  this  gland  was  the  principal  seat  of  disease, 
and  there  were  other  morbid  appearances  in  the  stomachs  or  intes- 
tines, to  indicate  sufficient  cause  of  death  without  reference  to  the 
state  of  the  pancreas.  This  is  a  subject  which  deserves  the  attention 
of  the  veterinary  surgeon,  and  on  which  no  one  has  yet  ventured  to 
write. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  follow  the  passage  of  the  food  from  the 
fourth  stomach  into  the  intestinal  canaL 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  ANATOMY  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  INTESTINES. 

In  cattle,  the  enormous  development  of  the  rumen,  occupying 
nearly  three-fourths  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  leaves  but  little  room 
for  bulky  intestines ;  the  bowels  are  therefore  diminished  in  size,  in 
order  that  they  may  be  mort  rapidly  packed  wherever  room  can  be 
found  for  them. 

The  larger  intestines,  particularly  the  colon  and  caecum,  have 
no  collated  structure,  and,  consequently,  the  food  will  pass  through 
them  with  great  rapidity.  Lest  this,  however,  should  prevent  the 
abstraction  of  all  the  nutriment  which  it  contains,  and  thus  interfere 
with  the  destiny  of  cattle — the  furnishing  of  the  human  being  with 
food  while  they  are  living  and  after  they  are  dead — the  intestinal 
canal  is  greatly  prolonged.  The  intestines  of  cattle  are  twenty-two 
times  as  long  as  his  body. 

It  will  be  remarked  {g,  p.  291,  and  fig.  1,  on  next  page,)  that  the 
duodenum  is,  at  its  commencement  from  the  stomach,  little  larger 
than  the  jejunum  and  ileum,  which  are  prolongations  from  it.  In 
consequence  of  the  maceration  of  the  food  in  the  rumen,  the  double 
mastication,  and  the  mechanism  of  the  manyplus,  by  means  of  which 
every  fibrous  particle  is  seized  and  ground  down,  the  food  is  nearly 
dissolved  before  it  enters  the  fourth  stomach  ;  it  is  easily  completed 
there,  and  the  duodenum  has  nothing  to  do  of  this  nature.  On  this 
account,  the  duodenum  of  cattle  is  little  larger  than  the  small  intes- 
tines which  succeed  to  it. 

The  duodenum  and  all  the  intestines  have,  like  the  stomachs, 
three  coats.  The  outer  one  is  the  peritoneum,  or  the  membrane  by 
which  all  the  contents  of  the  belly  are  invested ;  by  which  also  they 
are  all  confined  in  their  natural  situations,  and  by  the  smoothness 
and  moisture  of  which,  all  injurious  friction  and  concussions  are 
avoided.  The  second  is  the  muscular  coat,  supplied  by  the  motor 
organic  nerves,  and  by  means  of  the  contraction  of  which  the  food  is 
propelled  along  the  intestinal  canal  in  the  process  of  healthy  diges- 
tion, or  hastened  when  those  muscles  are  made  to  contract  more 
rapidly  and  violently  under  the  influence  o!  irritation,  whether  refer- 


CATTLE. 


able  to  disease  or  to  some  purgative  drug.  The  inner  coat  is  a 
mucous  one,  thickly  studded  with  minute  glands,  which,  in  a  state 
of  health,  secrete  sufficient  mucous  fluid  to  lubricate  the  passage ; 
and,  under  the  stimulus  of  a  purgative,  throw  out  a  fluid  increased 
in  quantity,  and  of  a  more  aqueous  character,  and  in  which  the  con- 
tents of  the  intestines  are  softened  and  involved  and  carried  away. 


The  Duodenum. 
The  Jejunum. 
The  Ileum. 


4.  The  Caecum. 

5.  The  Colon. 

6.  The  Rectum- 


The  Mesentery. 
Mesenteric   Glandi. 
Blood-vessels. 


THE    DUODENUM. 


On  this  f3oat  likewise  open  the  mouths  of  innumerable  vessels — 
the  lacteal  absorbents — which  imbibe  or  take  up  the  nutritive  portion 
of  the  food.  These  vessels  ramify  across  the  mesentery,  and  con- 
vey this  nutriment  to  a  common  duct  that  passes  along"^  it,  and  by 
means  of  which  it  is  carried  into  the  great  veins  in  the  neighborhood 


THE  JEJUNUM  AND  ILIUM.  331 

of  the  heart,  where  it  is  mixed  with  the  venous  blood  returned  from 
every  part.  By  the  power  of  the  heart  it  is  propelled  through  the 
lungs,  where  it  is  purified  and  vitalized :  and  having  been  returned 
to  this  organ  it  is  driven  through  other  vessels  all  over  the  frame, 
and  bestows  nutriment  and  life  on  every  part. 

The  food,  in  a  state  of  perfect  solution,  and  under  the  name  of 
chyme,  is  forced  on  by  the  muscular  coat  of  the  fourth  stomach  into 
the  duodenum,  where  another  change  immediately  commences.  The 
food  is  separated  into  two  distinct  portions  or  principles — that 
which  is  nutritive  or  capable  of  being  imbibed  by  the  lacteals — a 
white  fluid  called  chyle — and  that  which  is  either  innutritive,  or 
which  they  reject,  and  which  is  propelled  along  the  intestines  and 
finally  evacuated. 

There  has  been  much  dispute  as  to  the  manner  in  which  this 
separation  is  effected.  The  chyme  that  has  been  formed  by  the 
agency  of  the  gastric  juice  may  contain  in  itself  a  tendency  to  this 
separation,  or  precipitation  of  the  excrementitious  part ;  or  this  may 
be  effected  by  some  fluid  secreted  from  the  mucous  coat  of  the  du- 
odenum ;  or  the  bile  and  the  pancreatic  juice  may  be  the  main 
agents  in  producing  the  change. 

Ten  or  twelve  inches  down  the  duodenum,  as  may  be  seen  at  A, 
p.  291,  two  ducts  penetrate  the  coats  of  that  intestine,  and  pour 
into  it  the  fluid  secreted  by  the  pancreas  and  liver.  It  would  seem 
likely,  from  the  distance  from  the  stomach  at  which  these  fluids 
enter,  that  some  change  had  already  taken  place  in  the  contents  of 
the  duodenum,  which  was  to  be  perfected  by  means  of  these  auxilia- 
ries. The  separation  or  precipitation  is  more  rapidly  and  effectually 
made  ;  while  the  bile  also  has  some  stimulating  effect  on  the  coats 
of  the  stomach,  urging  the  exhalents  and  the  absorbents,  and  the 
muscles  of  the  intestines,  to  stronger  and  more  effectual  action  ;  and 
the  pancreatic  juice  may  dilute  the  biliary  secretion,  and  shield  the 
intestine  from  its  occasional  too  great  acrimony. 

While,  however,  the  bile  is  thus  acting  in  promoting  healthy  di- 
gestion, (and  no  animals  afford  more  frequent  illustration  of  the  con- 
nection between  the  biliary  secretion  and  the  digestive  process  than 
cattle  do,)  the  true  notion  of  it  is  perhaps,  that  it  is  an  excremen- 
titious substance,  containing  properties  that  would  be  noxious  to  the 
constitution,  but,  as  in  most  of  the  contrivances  of  nature,  the  mode 
of  its  evacuation  answers  another  and  a  salutary  purpose. 

The  duodenum  terminates  in  the  jejunum,  but  there  is  no  assign- 
able point  where  the  one  can  be  said  to  terminate  and  the  other 
begin. 

THE    JEJUNUM    AND    ILEUM. 

These  intestines,  together  with  the^  duodenum,  the  caecum,  and  a 
portion  of  the  coloti,  will  be  seen  (in  the  cut  p.  330,  at  Jigs.  2  and  3,) 


832  CATTLE. 


to  be  united  together,  and  enfolded  in  one  common  expansion  of  the 
mesentery.  They  he  on  the  right  side  of  the  belly,  occupying  the 
flank,  and  resting  upon  the  right  portion  of  the  rumen.  The  jejunum 
and  the  ileum  constitute  the  border  of  this  mesenteric  expansion, 
and  are  disposed  in  the  form  of  numerous  spiral  convolutions.  If 
they  were  unfolded,  the  length  of  these  intestines  would,  in  an  ox 
of  common  size,  amount  to  more  than  one  hundred  feet.  This 
length  of  small  intestine  is  designed  to  compensate  for  the  want  of 
development  and  of  cells  in  the  larger  ones.  The  food  is  detained 
by  the  length  of  the  passage,  and  also  by  the  construction  of  the 
convolutions.  The  principal  absorption  of  chyle  takes  place  in 
them. 

THE    CECUM. 

It  describes  a  considerable  arch  {^ee  fig.  4,  p.  330,)  the  superior 
extremity  of  which  is  fixed  to  the  portion  of  mesentery  common  to 
it  and  the  small  intestines,  while  the  inferior  portion  floats  loose  in 
the  abdomen,  and  is  prolonged  into  the  pelvic  cavity,  where  it  has  a 
rounded  termination.  The  portion  of  food  that  can  enter  into  it  is 
small,  and  cannot  be  detained  long  there,  because  there  are  no  lon- 
gitudinal bands  to  pucker  the  intestine  into  numerous  and  deep  cells  ; 
but  the  contents  of  the  caecum  have  the  character  of  being  more  fluid 
than  in  any  other  part  of  the  intestinal  canal.  The  length  of  the 
caecum  seldom  exceeds  a  yard. 

THE    COLON. 

This  intestine  is  evidently  divisible  into  two  parts,  (see  fig.  5. 
p.  330  ;)  the  one  smaller  than  the  caecum  is  supported  by  the  com- 
mon mesentery ;  the  other  floats  loose  in  the  belly,  and  forms  part  of 
the  second  mass  of  intestines.  It  has  convolutions,  but  is  destitute 
of  muscular  bands.  It  is  less  than  the  caecum,  but  combined  with 
the  next  and  the  last  intestine,  the  rectum,  it  measures  more  than 
thirty-three  feet.  The  want  of  mechanical  obstruction  to  the  pass- 
age of  the  food  is  thus  made  up  by  the  increased  length  of  the 
viscera.  In  the  colon,  the  process  of  digestion  may  be  considered  to 
be  in  a  manner  terminated,  and  all  that  remains  is  faeculent  matter, 
that  continues  to  be  urged  on  in  order  to  be  expelled. 

THE    RECTUM. 

This  intestine,  so  'ailed  from  the  straight  course  which  it  runs, 
terminates  the  diofestive  canal.     It  has  no  lonoitudinal  bands,  for  it 

O  ID  ' 

contains  little  beside  the  excrement  that  is  to  be  discharged,  or  that 
should  least  of  all  be  detained.  The  lacteal  absorbents  may  still  be 
traced  in  this  intestine,  but  it  is  probable  that  very  little  nutritive 
matter  is  taken  up,  although,  from  the  occasional  hardened  state  of 
the  dung;,  it  is  possible  that  much  fluid  may  be  carried  ofl[. 


ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  MESENTERIC  GLANDS.      333 

A  circular  muscle,  the  sphincter,  is  always  in  action  at  the  termi- 
nation of  the  rectum,  to  prevent  its  contents  from  being  involunta- 
rily discharged.  Its  power  is  just  sufficient  for  the  purpose ;  and 
it  readily  yields,  when  by  the  pressure  of  the  abdominal  muscles 
and  the  diaphragm,  the  excrement  is  forced  against  it,  in  the  vol- 
untary efforts  of  the  animal. 

The  contents  of  the  rectum  in  cattle  are  semi-fluid — their  nutritive 
qualities  are  nearly  exhausted,  and  they  are  of  very  inferior  value 
for  agricultural  purposes. 

THE    DISEASES    OF    THE    INTESTINES. 

These  are  too  numerous,  and  destroy  too  many  of  our  cattle. 
Those  which  belong  to  the  membranes  that  invest  or  line  the  intes- 
tines, and  that  are  referable  to  the  greater  part,  or  the  whole,  of 
their  extent,  will  with  most  convenience  first  come  under  consideration. 
Those  which  affect  only  particular  viscera,  or  parts  of  them,  will 
naturally  follow. 

ENLARGEMENT    OF    THE    MESENTERIC    GLANDS. 

It  has  been  stated  that  there  are  numerous  vessels,  termed  lacteals, 
opening  on  the  inner  coat  of  the  intestines,  in  order  to  convey  the 
chyle  to  the  thoracic  duct,  so  that  it  may  mingle  with  and  supply 
the  waste  of  the  blood.  These  little  vessels,  ere  they  reach  the  main 
trunk,  pass  through  a  glandular  body,  in  which  some  unknown 
change  is  probably  effected  in  the  chyle.  Some  of  these  mesenteric 
glands  are  represented  at  Jig.  8,  p.  330.  These  glands  occasionally 
become  unnaturally  enlarged,  and  then,  whether  from  the  abstraction 
of  so  much  nutriment,  in  order  to  contribute  to  this  enlargement,  or 
from  the  unknown  change  not  taking  place  in  the  chyle  before  it 
mingles  with  the  blood,  or  from  the  constitutional  disturbance  which 
the  presence  of  such  a  body  in  the  abdomen  i»iust  produce,  the 
animal  ceases  to  thrive,  his  belly  becomes  enlarged,  cough  and  con- 
sumption appear,  and  he  gradually  wastes  away  and  dies.  On  exami- 
nation after  death,  some  of  the  mesenteric  glands  are  of  unusual  bulk, 
and  occasionally  have  grown  to  an  enormous  size. 

A  cow  having  an  internal  tumor,  showing  on  the  right  side,  died. 
On  opening  the  abdomen,  the  first  thing  that  presented  itself,  filling 
the  iliac  region,  was  a  lai-ge  mesenteric  gland,  of  irregular  form,  wei^rh- 
ing  160  pounds.  On  making  a  section  through  it,  its  appearance  was 
chiefly  that  of  a  schirrous  deposit.  The  mesenteric  glands  generally 
were  unhealthy,  and  many  of  them  were  schirrous.  This  case  is  a  valu- 
able one  ;  it  is  the  only  one  on  record  of  schirrous  enlargement  of  the 
mesenteric  glands  of  the  ox  ;  but  the  recollection  of  every  practitioner 
will  fuinisli  him  with  not  a  few  instances  of  these  tumors  unexpectedly 
presenting  themselves  on  examination  of  the  abdomen.  They  have 
been  found  chiefly  in  young  beasts  that  had  been  bred  too  much  in 


CATTLE. 


and  in,  or  that  had  been  weakly  from  other  causes,  and  particularly 
in  those  that  had  been  subject  to  chronic  cough,  associated  with 
tubercles  in  the  lungs.  In  low  and  damp  situations  these  tumors 
have  been  found  on  the  mesentery  of  cattle  that  have  been  long 
unthrifty  and  out  of  condition,  and  that  have  at  length  died  apparently 
in  consequence  of  some  other  disease. 

The  association,  however,  with  these  diseases  has  differed  so  ma- 
terially in  different  cases,  and  the  symptoms  have  been  so  obscure,  or 
so  much  resembling  those  of  various  and  almost  opposite  complaints, 
that  they  have  not  yet  been  satisfactorily  classed  and  arranged. 

The  trear/nent  of  these  mesenteric  enlargements,  when  they  are 
suspected  and  pretty  well  ascertained,  would  be  a  course  of  mild 
purgatives,  mingled  with  tonics,  (the  Epsom  salts  with  gentian  and 
ginger,  a  dose  sufficient  to  keep  the  bowels  gently  open  being  admin- 
istered every  morning,)  with  the  exhibition  of  from  six  to  ten  grains 
of  the  hydriodate  of  potash,  at  noon  and  night,  and  the  removal  of 
the  animal  to  good  and  dry  pasture. 

INFLAMMATION    OF    THE    BOWELS. 

Of  this  malady  there  are  two  species  :  the  first  is  inflammation  of 
the  external  coat  of  the  intestines,  accompanied  by  considerable  fever, 
and  usually  by  costiveness ;  the  second  is  that  of  the  internal  or 
mucous  coat,  and  generally  attended  by  violent  purging. 

The  first  of  these,  designated  by  the  term  Enteritis,  is,  in  most 
cases,  sudden  in  its  attack.  Beasts  of  middle  age — strong — in  good 
condition,  and  particularly  working  cattle,  are  most  subject  to  it. 
Calves,  old  beasts,  and  milch  cows  are  comparatively  exempt  from  it. 
The  disease  is  most  frequent  in  hot  weather,  and  after  long-continued 
drought. 

The  beast,  that  on  the  preceding  day  seemed  to  be  in  perfect 
health,  is  observed  to  be  dull — depressed — his  muzzle  dry — his  hair 
rough  ; — he  shrinks  when  his  lokis  are  pressed  upon,  and  his  belly 
seems  to  be  enlargeu  on  tbe  left  side.  To  these  symptoms  speedily 
succeed  disinclination  to  move — weakness  of  the  hind  limbs — trem- 
bling of  them — staggering — heaving  of  the  flanks — protmsion  of  the 
head — redness  of  the  eyes — heat  of  the  mouth  and  ears  and  roots  of 
the  horns,  and  a  small,  but  rapid  pulse,  generally  varying  fioni  60  to 
80  beats  in  a  minute.  Rumination  has  now  ceased  ;  the  appetite  is 
lost ;  the  faeces  are  rarely  voided,  and  are  hard  and  covered  w^tli  a 
glazy  mucus,  and  that  mucus  is  sometimes  streaked  with  blood  ; — the 
animal  also  moans  with  intensity  of  pain. 

The  symptoms  rapidW  increase  ;  the  patient  becomes  more  de- 
pressed ;  the  pulse  more  feeble  ;  the  moaning  incessant,  and  the 
beast  is  continually  down.  He  becomes  half  unconscious,  and  is 
evidently  half-blind  ;  the  mouth  is  filled  with  foam,  and  the  tongue 
is  covered  with  a  browish  yellow  deposit.     There  is  grinding  of  the 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS. 


teeth,  and  difficulty  in  the  swallowing  of  liquids  ;  a  tucked  appear- 
ance of  the  belly,  mingling  with  the  enlargement  of  the  left  flank — 
and  the  whole  of  the  belly  is  exceedingly  tender.  Until  he  is  too 
weak  to  raise  himself,  he  is  exceedingly  restless,  lying  down,  and 
immediately  getting  up  again,  and  with  convulsive  movements  of  the 
muscles  of  the  neck  and  extremities.  The  evacuation  of  the  faeces  is 
entirely  suppressed,  or  a  little  stream  of  liquid  excrement  forces  a 
passage  through  the  hardened  mass  by  which  the  rectum  is  distended, 
and  that  which  is  voided  has  an  exceedingly  fetid  and  putrid  smell. 
This  symptom  is  characteristic.  The  person  who  is  accustomed  to 
cattle  says  that  the  beast  is  fardel-hound  or  sapped,  but  he  often 
mistakes  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  fancies  that  diarrhoea  instead  of 
costiveness  exists.  The  urine  becomes  thick  and  oily  and  brown,  and 
has  a  peculiarly  disagreeable  and  penetrating  smell.  As  the  disease 
proceeds,  the  weakness  and  suffering  increase,  until  the  animal  dies, 
sometimes  exhausted,  but  mostly  in  convulsions,  and  frequently 
discharging  a  bloody  fetid  fluid  from  the  mouth,  the  nose,  and  the 
anus. 

Sometimes,  when  the  disease  has  not  been  attacked  with  sufficient 
energy,  and  often  in  despite  of  the  most  skillful  treatment,  other  symp- 
toms appear.  The  animal  seems  to  amend  ;  the  pulse  is  slower  and 
more  developed — rumination  returns — the  patient  eats  a  little — the 
enlargement  of  the  flanks  subsides — the  excrement,  whether  hard  or 
fluid,  is  more  abundantly  discharged  :  but  the  beast  is  sadly  thin — he 
is  daily  losing  ground — his  coat  stares — the  hair  is  easily  detached — ■ 
the  skin  chngs  to  the  bones — he  is  sometimes  better,  and  sometimes 
worse,  until  violent  inflammation  again  suddenly  comes  on,  and  he  is 
speedily  carried  off". 

On  examination  after  death,  the  first  thing  that  presents  itself  is  the 
engrororement  of  the  sub- cutaneous  vessels  with  black  and  coagrulated 

o       o  .  .      ^  . 

blood,  and  the  discoloration  of  the  muscles,  softened  in  their  consist- 
ence and  becoming  putrid.  The  abdomen  exhibits  the  eftusion  of  a 
great  quantity  of  bloody  fluid  ;  eight,  ten,  and  twelve  gallons  have 
been  taken  from  it.  The  peritoneum  is  inflamed — almost  universally 
so  ; — there  are  black  and  gangrenous  patches  in  various  parts,  and  on 
others  there  are  deposits  of  flaky  matter,  curiously  formed,  and  often 
curiously  spotted.  The  liver  is  enlarged,  and  its  substance  easily 
torn  ;  the  rumen  is  distended  with  food,  generally  dry,  and  its  lining 
membrane  inflamed  and  injected,  and  of  a  purple  or  blue  tint ;  the 
reticulum  does  not  escape  the  inflammatory  action ;  the  manyplus  is 
filled  Avith  dry  and  hard  layers,  which  cannot  be  detached  without 
difficulty  from  the  mucous  membrane  of  that  stomach  ;  the  fourth 
stomach  is  highly  inflamed,  with  patches  of  a  more  intense  character, 
and  its  contents  are  liquid  and  bloody,  particularly  towards  the  pyloiic 
orifice.  The  small  intestines  contain  many  spots  of  ulceration,  the 
lining  membrane  is  everywhere  inflamed,  and  they  are  filled  with  an 


CATTLE. 


adhesive  or  bloody  mucous  fluid ;  the  larger  intestines  are  even  more 
inflamed ;  they  exhibit  more  extensive  ulceration,  and  contain  many 
clots  of  eff'used  blood.  The  rectum  is  ulcerated  and  gangrenous  from 
end  to  end. 

There  is  usually  considerable  effusion  in  the  chest ;  the  coverings 
of  the  lungs  are  inflamed ;  the  bag  of  the  heart  more  so ;  the  sub- 
stance of  the  lungs  is  sometimes  emphysematous,  and  at  other  times 
gorged  with  blood,  and  the  heart  is  marked  with  black  spots  out- 
wardly, and  in  its  cavities.  The  lining  membrane  of  all  the  air-pass- 
ages is  of  a  red  brown  color ;  the  larynx  and  the  pharynx  are 
intensely  red,  and  so  is  the  membrane  of  the  gullet. 

Of  the  causes  of  this  disease  it  is  difficult  to  speak.  It  seems 
occasionally  to  be  epidemic,  for  several  instances  of  it  occur,  of  the 
same  character,  and  in  the  same  district. 

When  isolated  cases  occur,  they  may  generally  be  attributed  to 
mismanagement.  Exposure  to  cold,  or  the  drinking  of  cold  water 
when  heated  with  work  ;  too  hard  work  in  sultry  weather ;  the  use 
of  water  stagnant,  impure,  or  containing  any  considerable  quantity  of 
metallic  salts  ;  the  sudden  revulsion  of  some  cutaneous  eruption  ;  the 
crowding  of  animals  into  a  confined  place ;  too  luxuriant  and  stimu- 
lating food  generally ;  and  the  mildewed  and  unwholesome  food  on 
which  cattle  are  too  often  kept,  are  fruitful  sources  of  this  complaint. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — Aconitum  is  to  be  given  in  doses  repeated 
every  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  until  the  most  prominent  symptoms 
of  the  inflammation  have  disappeared.  If  this  end  be  not  attained 
after  some  hours,  or  if,  notwithstanding  a  perceptible  improvement, 
pain  still  remains,  arsenicum  is  to  be  given.  The  medicine  alternately 
with  aconitum,  has  sometimes,  it  is  said,  produced  good  eftects.  It 
is  particularly  indicated  when  the  disease  has  been  occasioned  by 
cold  drinks,  or  by  improper  food  and  disturbance  of  digestion. 
When  aconitum  and  arsenicum  fail,  we  must  have  recourse  to  carbo 
vtgetabllis  and  rhus  toxicodendron. 

WOOD-EVIL,    MOOR-ILL,    PANTAS. 

These  are  but  varieties  of  the  same  disease,  frequently  produced, 
as  the  first  name  would  import,  by  browsing  on  the  young  buds  of 
trees,  and  particularly  on  those  of  the  ash  and  the  oak.  These 
buds  are  tempting  to  cattle  at  the  commencement  of  the  spring,  but 
they  are  of  too  acrid  and  stimulating  a  character  to  be  eaten  with 
impunity  in  any  considerable  quantities.  Heat  of  the  mouth  and  skin 
— redness  of  the  membranes — thirst — obstinate  constipation — hard- 
ness of  the  little  faeces  that  are  expelled — the  covering  of  them  with 
mucus  and  blood — difficulty  of  voiding  urine,  and  its  red  color  and 
penetrating  odor — colicky  pains — depression — are  the  characteristic 
symptoms  of  this  disease. 

Some  veterinarians  give  the  name  of  wood-evil  to  complaints  allied 


WOOD-EVIL,  MOOR-ILL,  PANTAS. 


to  rheiimatisrn,  or  being  essentially  rheumatic  ;  others  consider  it  to 
be  a  disease  of  debility,  looking  to  the  consequence  of  inflammation, 
and  not  to  the  inflammation  itself.  If  any  distinction  were  drawn 
between  wood-evil  and  enteritis  in  cattle,  it  would  be,  that  although 
in  wood-evil  there  seems  to  be  more  affection  of  the  head,  and  the 
animal  appears  now  and  then  as  if  it  were  rabid,  there  is  not  so  much 
intestinal  inflammation,  and  the  disease  dose  not  so  speedily  run  its 
course.     Wood-evil  may  last  from  twelve  to  twenty  days. 

The  prognosis,  or  expectation  of  the  termination  of  the  disease,  is 
always  unfavorable  when  after  a  certain  time  much  fever  comes  on, 
or  the  costiveness  will  not  give  way,  or  the  urine  is  thick  or  bloody, 
or  the  disease  attains  its  full  intensity  in  the  space  of  a  few  days. 
Then,  instead  of  terminating  in  resolution,  the  inflammation  runs  on 
to  gangrene  ;  all  the  acute  symptoms  suddenly  disappear,  and  death 
IS  not  far  distant.  On  the  other  hand,  the  result  will  be  favorable 
when  the  disease  does  not  reach  that  degree  of  intensity  of  which 
it  is  capable — when,  after  a  few  days,  the  symptoms  gradually  dis- 
appear, and  the  animal  regains  his  former  habits,  and  the  excrement 
resumes  its  natural  form  and  consistence. 

The  history  thai  has  been  given  of  this  disease  will  leave  little 
doubt  respecting  the  course  of  treatment  that  should  be  pursued.  A 
malady  of  so  intensely  an  inflammatory  character  should  be  met  by 
prompt  and  decisive  measures  :  and  to  them  it  will,  in  its  early 
stage,  generally  yield.  Nothing  is  so  easy  as  to  give  relief  to  a 
sapped  or  fardel-bound  beast,  before  he  begins  to  heave  at  the  flanks 
or  ceases  to  ruminate  ;  but  quickness  of  breathing,  and  heat  of  the 
mouth,  and  evident  fever,  being  once  established,  the  animal  will 
probably  be  lost. 

The  patient  should  be  bled.  If  it  be  simple  costiveness  without 
fever,  the  abstraction  of  six  or  eight  quarts  of  blood  may  suffice  ; 
but  if  the  symptoms  of  inflammation  cannot  be  misunderstood,  the 
measure  of  the  bleeding  will  be  the  quantity  that  the  animal  will 
lose  before  he  staggers  or  falls.  Purgatives  should  follow — the  first 
dose  being  of  the  full  strength,  and  assisted  by  quickly  repeated 
ones,  until  quick  purging  is  produced.  Hot  water,  or  blisters,  should 
be  applied  to  the  belly,  and  the  food  of  the  beast  should  be  re- 
stricted to  gruel  and  mashes.  This  will,  in  most  cases,  include  the 
whole  of  the  treatment. 

If  other  spmptoms  should  arise,  or  other  parts  appear  to  be  in- 
volved, the  practitioner  will  change  his  mode  of  proceeding  accord- 
ingly ;  but  he  will  be  cautious  how  he  gives  aromatics  or  tonics, 
until  he  is  convinced  that  the  state  of  fever  has  passed  over,  and 
circumstances  indicate  the  approach  of  debility  and  of  typhus  fever. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — Ipecacuanha  and  veratrmn,  alternately, 
every  quarter  of  an  hour,  are  the  means  by  which  this  disease  has 
been  cured,  which,  in  general,  proceeds  with  great  rapidity.  Aeon- 
itum  and  arscniciim  might  be  most  properly  administered. 


CATTLE. 


DIARRHCEA  AND  DYSENTERY. 

The  distinction  between  these  two  diseases,  and  it  is  of  essential 
importance  to  observe  it  in  the  treatment  of  cattle,  is,  that  diarrhoea 
consists  in  the  evacuation  of  faecal  matter,  in  an  undue  quantity,  and 
more  than  naturally  liquid  form.  In  dysentery,  more  or  less  mucus, 
or  mucus  and  blood  combined,  mingles  with  faeces. 

The  frequent  and  abundant  evacuation  of  faecal  matter,  whether 
with  or  without  mucus,  may  be  considered  either  as  simple,  or  con- 
nected with  other  diseases.  In  its  former  state  it  will  be  the  sub- 
ject of  present  coiisideration,  and  may  be  regarded  as  acute  or 
chronic.  Acute  diarrhoea  may  be  produced  by  various  causes  ; — the 
abuse  of  purgatives,  by  their  being  administered  in  too  active  a  form 
— feeding  on  certain  poisonous  plants — sudden  change  of  food,  gen- 
erally from  dry  to  green  aliment,  but  occasionally  from  green  to  dry 
— excess  of  food — the  drinking  of  bad  water — or  by  some  humid  and 
unhealthy  state  of  the  atmosphere.  From  the  last  cause  it  usually 
assumes  an  epizootic  character,  particularly  in  autumn.  A  great 
many  cows  in  a  certain  district  are  suddenly  attacked  by  it,  although 
there  is  no  reason  to  suspect  that  it  is  in  the  slightest  degree  conta- 
gious. 

Calves  and  milch  cows  are  far  more  subject  to  this  species  of  in- 
testinal inflammation  than  are  full  grown  or  working  oxen. 

The  proper  treatment  of  acute  diarrhoea  will  consist  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  a  mild  purgative,  in  ordt^r  to  carry  off  any  source  of 
irritation  in  the  intestinal  canal ;  the  abstraction  of  blood,  if  there 
be  any  degree  of  fever,  and  in  proportion  to  that  fever ;  and  then  the 
exhibition  of  alkalies  and  astringents.  The  most  eff"ectual  medicines 
are  prepared  chalk,  opium,  catechu,  and  ginger,  in  the  proportions 
of  one  ounce  of  the  first,  one  drachm  of  the  second,  four  drachms 
of  the  third,  and  two  of  the  last,  in  each  dose,  and  to  be  adminis- 
tered in  thick  gruel. 

This  will  generally  be  successful :  but,  occasionally,  these  acute 
cases  of  diarrhoea  are  obstinate  and  fatal  ;  and  too  often  it  happens 
that  what  has  been  represented  to  the  practitioner  as  a  sudden 
attack  turns  out  to  be  the  winding  up  of  some  chronic  disease,  and 
he  does  not  discover  the  mistake  until  it  is  too  late. 

Diarrhoea  is  not  always  to  be  considered  as  a  disease.  It  is  often 
a  salutary  effort  of  nature  to  get  rid  of  that  which  would  be  inju- 
rious ;  or  it  is  a  somewhat  too  great  action  of  certain  of  the  di- 
gestive organs,  which  soon  quiet  down  again  to  their  natural  and 
healthy  function.  An  occasional  lax  state  of  the  bowels  in  calves  is 
known  to  be  favorable  to  the  acquirement  of  fat ;  and  a  beast  that 
is  well  purged  on  being  first  turned  on  spring-grass  or  turnips, 
thrives  far  more  rapidly  than  another  that  is  little,  or  not  at  all, 
aff"ected  by  the  change.     Diarrhoea,  in  some  critical  stages  of  disease, 


DIARRHOEA  AND  DYSENiERY. 


is  to  be  hailed  as  the  precursor  of  health,  rather  than  feared  as  the 
attack  of  a  new  raalady  :  it  should  be  so  in  pneumonia,  red  water, 
and  puerperal  fever.  All  that  is  then  to  be  done  is  to  prevent  its 
becoming  so  violent  as  to  depress  the  vital  energies.  Diarrhoea  may- 
assume  a  chronic  form,  with  greater  or  less  severity,  and  producing 
loss  of  condition  and  debility ;  it  may  be  prolonged  for  many  a 
month,  and  even  for  years,  and  at  length  terminate  fatally.  This  is 
often  the  case  with  cows  that  have  been  drained  of  their  milk  and 
badly  kept.  The  diarrhoea  of  calves  will  be  considered  when  the 
diseases  of  those  animals  come  under  notice. 

The  treatment  of  chronic  diarrhoea  is  difficult  ana  unsatisfactory. 
Purgatives  cannot  be  dispensed  with,  but  they  must  be  administered 
with  considerable  caution.  Both  the  medicine  and  the  quantity 
should  be  well  considered,  for  if  the  aperient  be  not  strong  enough, 
the  disorder  will  be  increased  and  prolonged  ;  and  if  it  be  too  strono-, 
both  these  effects  will  be  produced  to  a  greater  extent,  and  fatal 
inflammation  and  superpurgation  may  ensue.  Castor  oil  will  be  the 
safest,  and  the  most  effectual  medicine,  in  doses  from  a  pint  to  a 
quart :  and  a  small  quantity,  ten  grains,  of  powdered  opium,  will  not 
interfere  with  the  aperient  quality  of  the  oil,  while  it  may  allay  irri- 
tation. After  two  doses  of  the  oil  have  been  given,  the  powder 
already  recommended  may  bo  tried,  but  with  a  double  quantity  of 
ginger,  and  half  a  drachm  of  powdered  gentian.  After  a  while,  a 
drachm  of  Dover's  powder  may  be  given,  morning  and  night ;  and, 
that  also  ceasing  to  have  effect,  the  first  powder  may  again  be  ad- 
ministered. Alum  whey  is  often  of  considerable  service.  If  the 
animal  be  turned  out,  it  should  be  on  the  driest  pasture,  but  it  w^ill 
be  better  for  her  to  be  kept  up  with  plenty  of  hay,  and  gruel  to 
drink. 

Homoeopathic  treatment — The  cure  of  diarrhoea  is  effected  by 
different  means.  In  the  diarrhoea  which  bursts  out  suddenly,  or  the 
acute  form,  we  should  commence  with  a  couple  of  doses  of  acouitum, 
at  short  intervals  ;  after  which,  in  most  cases,  arsenicum  and  ipeca- 
cuanha are  very  effectual.  The  diarrhoea  brought  on  by  cold  often 
yields  to  aconitum  alone,  as  that  resulting  from  any  irregularity  in 
diet  yields  to  arsenic.  If  in  the  latter  case  there  be  also  loss  of  ap- 
petite, and  if  arsenic  does  not  effect  a  cure,  pui'-satilla  should  be 
given,  or,  when  there  is  an  absolute  repugnance  to  food,  nntimonium 
crudum,  especially  when  the  diarrhoea  alternates  periodically  with 
constipation.  If  there  be  frequent  dejections  without  pain,  we  have 
resource  to  rheum.  Asarum  is  useful,  if  the  evacuations  are  fluid, 
and  sometimes  mixed  with  bloody  mucus. 

In  the  treatment  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  beside  china,  sulphur,  cha- 
momilla,  and  veratrum,  which  have  been  found  useful  more  than  once, 
we  should  employ  acidum  phosphoricum,  hryonia,  calcarea  acetica,  dul- 
camara, magnesia^  carbonica,  petroleum  and  phosphorus.    Diarrhoea  is 


540  CATTLE. 


usually  accompanied  with  a  general  morbid  state,  with  respect  to 
which  we  are  to  choose,  among  these  several  means,  that  which 
suits  best.  Sulphur  and  amenicum  are  the  principal  remedies  for 
diarrhcea  in  calves. 

It  is,  however,  with  dysentery  that  the  practitioner  is  most  loth 
to  cope — a  disease  that  destroys  thousands  of  our  cattle.  This  also 
mav  be  either  acute  or  chronic.  Its  causes  are  too  often  buried  in 
obscuritv,  and  its  premonitory  symptoms  are  disregarded  or  unknown. 
There  appears  to  be  a  strong  predisposition  in  cattle  to  take  on  this 
disease.  It  seems  to  be  the  winding  up  of  many  serious  complaints, 
and  the  found'  don  of  it  is  sometimes  laid  by  those  that  appear  to 
be  of  the  mos^  trifling  nature.  It  is  that  in  cattle  which  glanders  and 
farcy  are  in  the  horse — the  breaking  up  of  the  constitution. 

Dysentery  may  be  a  symptom  and  a  concomitant  of  other  diseases. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  fearful  characteristics  of  murrain  ;  it  is  the 
destructive  accompaniment  or  consequence  of  phthisis.  It  is  pro- 
duced by  the  sudden  disappearance  of  a  cutaneous  eruption  ;  it  fol- 
lows the  secession  of  chronic  hoose ;  it  is  the  consequence  of  the 
natural  or  artificial  suspension  of  every  secretion.  Were  any  secre- 
tion to  be  particularly  selected,  the  repression  of  which  would  pro- 
duce dysentery,  it  would  be  that  of  the  milk.  How  often  does  the 
farmer  observe  that  no  sooner  does  a  milch  cow  cease  her  usual  sup- 
ply of  milk,  than  she  begins  to  purge  ?  There  may  not  appear  to 
be  anything  else  the  matter  with  her,  but  she  purges,  and  in  the  ma- 
jority of  cases  that  purging  is  fatal. 

It  may,  sometimes,  however,  be  traced  to  sufficient  causes,  exclu- 
sive of  pi-evious  disease.  Unwholesome  food — exposure  to  cold — 
neglect  at  the  time  of  calving — low  and  marshy  situations — the  feed- 
ing on  meadows  that  have  been  flooded  (here  it  is  peculiarly  fatal) — 
the  grazing  upon  the  clays  lying  over  the  blue  lias  rock — the 
neighborhood  of  woods,  and  of  half  stagnant  rivers — the  continua- 
tion of  unusually  sultry  weather — over-work,  and  all  the  causes  of 
acute  dysentery  may  produce  that  of  a  chronic  nature — or  acute 
dysentery  neglected,  or  badly,  or  even  most  skillfully  treated,  may 
degenerate  into  an  incurable  chronic  affection.  Half  starve  a  cow, 
or  overfeed  her,  milk  her  to  exhaustion,  or  dry  her  milk  too  rapidly, 
dysentery  may  follow. 

The  following  may  probably  be  the  order  of  the  spmptoms,  if  they 
are  carefully  observed.  There  will  be  a  httle  dullness  or  anxiety 
of  countenance,  the  muzzle  becoming  short  and  contracted — a  slight 
shrinking  when  the  loins  are  pressed  upon — the  skin  a  little  harsh 
and  dry — the  hair  a  little  rough — there  will  be  a  slight  degree  of 
uneasiness,  and  shivering,  that  scarcely  attracts  attention — then  (ex- 
cept it  be  the  degeneracy  of  acuie  into  chronic  dysentery)  constipa- 
tion may  be  perceived — it  will  be  to  a  certain  degree  obstinate — 
the  excrement  will   be  voided  with  pain — it  will  be  dry,  hard,  and 


DIARRHCEA  AND  DYSENTERY  a« 

expelled  in  small  quantities.  In  other  cases,  perhaps,  purging  will 
be  present  from  the  beginning ;  the  animal  will  be  tormented  with 
tenesmus,  or  frequent  desire  to  void  its  excrement,  and  that  act  at- 
tended by  straining  and  pain,  by  soreness  about  the  anus,  and  pro- 
trusion of  the  rectum  ;  and  sometimes  by  severe  colicky  spasms. 
In  many  cases,  however,  and  in  those  of  a  chronic  form,  few  of  these 
distressing  symptoms  are  observed  even  at  the  commencement  of  the 
disease,  but  the  animal  voids  her  faeces  oftener  than  it  is  natural  that 
she  should,  and  they  are  more  fluid  than  in  a  state  of  health  ;  but 
at  the  same  time,  she  loses  her  appetite  and  spirits  and  condition, 
and  is  evidently  wasting  away. 

In  acute  cases,  if  the  disease  does  not  at  once  destroy  the  animal, 
the  painful  symptoms  disappear,  and  httle  remains  but  a  greater  or 
less  degree  of  dullness,  disinclination  to  food,  rapid  decrease  of  con- 
dition, and  frequent  purging.  The  faeces  are  often  voided  in  a  pecu- 
liar manner ;  they  are  ejected  with  much  force,  and  to  a  considera- 
ble distance,  and  the  process  of  shooting  has  commenced.  The 
faeces,  too,  have  altered  their  character  ;  a  greater  quantity  of  mu- 
cus mingles  with  them  ;  sometimes  it  foi-ms  a  great  proportion  of 
the  matter  evacuated,  or  it  hangs  in  strings,  or  accumulates  layer 
after  layer  under  the  tail.  The  farmer  and  the  practitioner  anxiously 
examine  the  evacuation.  As  the  thin  mass  falls  on  the  ground, 
bubbles  are  formed  upon  it.  They  calculate  the  time  that  these 
vesicles  remain  unbroken.  If  they  burst  and  disappear  immediately, 
the  observer  does  not  quite  despair  ;  but  if  they  remain  several 
minutes  on  the  surface  of  the  dung,  he  forms  an  unfavorable  opinion 
of  the  case,  for  he  knows  that  these  bladders  are  composed  of  the 
mucus  that  lined  the  intestines,  and  which  is  not  separated  from  them 
except  under  circumstances  of  great  irritation ;  or  wliich  being 
thrown  off,  the  denuded  membrane  is  exposed  to  fatal  irritation.  In 
this  state  the  beast  may  remain  many  weeks,  or  months  ;  sometimes 
better,  and  sometimes  worse ;  and  even  promising  to  those  who 
know  little  about  the  matter  that  the  disease  will  gradually  subside. 
The  farmer,  however,  has  a  term  for  this  malady,  too  expressive  of 
the  result,  although  not  strictly  applicable  to  what  is  actually  taking 
place  within  the  animal.  She  is  rotten,  he  says,  and  she  dies  as  if 
she  were  so.  There  are  cases  of  recovery,  but  they  are  few  and 
far  between.  Most  cases  gradually  draw  to  a  close.  The  beast  is 
sadly  wasted — vermin  accumulate  on  him — his  teeth  become  loose — 
swellings  appear  under  the  jaw,  and  he  dies  from  absolute  exhaus- 
tion ;  or  the  dejections  gradually  change  their  character — blood 
mingles  with  the  mucus — purulent  matter  succeeds  to  that — it  is 
almost  insupportably  fetid — it  is  discharged  involuntarily — gangren- 
ous ulcers  about  the  anus  sometimes  tell  of  the  process  that  is  going 
on  within  ;  and,  at  length,  the  eyes  grow  dim  and  sunk  in  their  orbits, 
the  body  is  covered  with  cold  perspiration,  and  the  animal  dies. 


342  CATTLE. 


In  some  cases  the  emaciation  is  frig'utful ;  the  skin  cleaves  to  the 
bones,  and  the  animal  has  become  a  hving  skeleton  ;  in  others  there 
have  been  swellings  about  the  joints,  spreading  over  the  legs  gen- 
erally, occasionally  ulcerated  ;  and  in  all,  the  leaden  color  of  the 
membranes,  the  rapid  ioss  of  strength,  the  stench  of  the  excrement, 
and  the  unpleasant  odor  arising  from  the  animal  himself,  announce 
the  approach  of  death. 

The  appearances  after  death  are  extraordinarily  uniform,  consid- 
ering of  how  many  diseases  this  is  the  accompaniment  or  the  conse- 
quence, and  the  length  of  time  that  it  takes  to  run  its  course,  and 
during  which  so  many  other  organs  might  have  been  readily  involved. 
The  liver  is  rarely  in  any  considerable  state  of  disease.  The  first  and 
second  stomachs  are  seldom  much  aflfected  ;  the  third  stomach  pre- 
sents a  variable  appearance  with  regard  to  the  state  of  the  food  that 
it  contains,  and  which  is  sometimes  exceedingly  hard,  and  sometimes 
almost  pultaceous,  but  there  is  no  inflammation  about  the  stomach 
itself.  The  fourth  stomach  exhibits  a  peculiar  change :  there  is  an 
infiltration  or  collection  of  serous  fluid  in  the  cellular  substance  be- 
tween the  mucous  and  muscular  coat,  showing  some,  but  no  very 
acute,  degree  of  inflammation  in  the  submucous  tissue.  The  small 
intestines  are  frequently  without  a  single  trace  of  inflammation,  but 
sometimes,  however,  they  are  thickened  and  corrugated,  but  not  in- 
jected. It  is  in  the  caecum,  colon,  and  rectum,  that  the  character 
of  the  disease  is  to  be  distinctly  and  satisfactorily  traced. 

The  account  of  these  post  mortem  appearances  is  given  at  considera- 
ble lengtli,  because  they  clearly  indicate  the  hitherto  unsuspected  na- 
ture of  the  disease — unsuspected  at  least  among  veterinarians  ;  and 
they  will  probably  lead  to  a  mode  of  treatment  that  promises  a 
little  more  success  than  has  hitherto  attended  the  efforts  of  practi- 
tioners. It  is  plainly  infiammation  (at  first  acute,  but  gradually 
assuming  a  chronic,  a  more  insidious  and  dangerous  form,)  of  the 
large  intestines,  the  colon,  coecum,  and  rectum  ;  it  is  the  dysentery  of 
the  human  being  ;  it  is  that  which  was  once  the  scourge  of  the  human 
race,  but  thousands  of  whose  victims  are  now  rescued  from  its  grasp 
by  the  discovery  of  its  real  seat  and  character,  and  the  adoption  of 
those  measures  which  such  a  disease  plainly  indicates. 

If  this  malady  be  of  an  inflammatory  type,  the  first,  and  most  ob- 
vious, and  most  beneficial  measure  to  be  adopted,  is  bleeding;  and 
this  regulated  by  the  age,  size,  and  condition  of  the  beast,  the  sud- 
denness and  violence  of  the  attack,  and  the  degree  of  fever.  From 
two  to  five  or  six  quarts  of  blood  should  be  abstracted.  There  must 
be  very  great  debility — the  disease  must  in  a  manner  have  run  its 
course,  or  the  practitioner  will  be  without  excuse  who,  in  a  case  of 
inflammation  of  the  large  intestines,  neglects  the  abstraction  of  blood. 
General  bleedins^ — bleedinor  from  the  iutrular — will  be  of  service,  as 
lessening  the  general  irritation,  and  the  determination  of  blood  to  the 


DIARRHCEA  AND  DYSENTERY.  843 


part ;  but  in  this  case  the  practitioner  can  in  some  measure  avail 
himself  of  the  advantage  of  local  bleeding,  for  by  opening  the  sub- 
cutaneous or  milk  vein  he  takes  blood  from  the  parietes  of  the  abdo- 
men, and  from  that  portion  of  them  which  is  nearest  to  the  inflamed 
part.  The  repetition  of  the  bleeding  must  depend  on  circumstances, 
of  -which  the  practitioner  will  be  the  best  judge. 

Another  abater  of  inflammation  will  be  a  mild  aperient,  A  little 
consideration  will  show  that  this  is  not  contra-indicated  even  by  the 
degree  of  purging  which  then  exists ;  for  the  retention  of  matter, 
such  as  that  discharged  in  dysentery,  must  be  a  far  greater  source 
of  irritation  than  the  stimulus  of  a  mere  laxative. 

The  kind  of  medicine  is  a  consideration  of  far  more  consequence 
than  seems  to  be  generally  imagined.  There  would  be  a  decided 
objection  to  the  aloes  so  frequently  resorted  to  in  these  cases :  there 
would  be  some  degree  of  doubt  respecting  that  excellent  and  best 
medicine  for  general  purposes,  the  Epsom  salts.  Both  of  them  might 
add  to  the  excessive  irritation  which  the  practitioner  is  so  anxious  to 
allay.  Castor  oil  will  here,  as  in  acute  diarrhoea,  be  decidedly  pre- 
ferred, and  in  the  same  doses.  Some  judgment  will  be  required  as 
to  the  repetition  of  the  purgative.  Its  object  is  the  simple  evacua- 
of  morbid  feecal  matter,  and  not  the  setting  up  of  any  permanently 
increased  action  of  the  bowels :  therefore,  if,  instead  of  the  com- 
paratively scanty  and  mucous  discharges  of  dysentery,  a  fair  quantity 
of  actual  faeces  has  been  brought  away,  there  can  be  no  occasion 
for,  or,  rather,  there  would  be  objection  to,  the  continuance  of  the 
purgative.  Linseed  oil  certainly  stands  next  in  value  to  the  castor 
oil  as  an  aperient,  when  the  bowels  are  in  an  irritable  state. 

This  being  inflammation  of  the  large  or  lower  intestines,  there  will 
be  evident  propriety  in  the  administration  of  emollient  injections.  By 
means  of  the  injection  or  enema-pump,  the  intestines  in  the  ox, 
which  are  the  seat  of  this  disease,  may  be  completely  filled  with 
some  emollient  fluid  ;  and  that  which  is  most  of  all  indicated  here, 
and  especially  in  the  early  stage  of  treatment,  is  gruel,  well-boiled 
and  thick  ;  a  pailfull  of  it  may  be  thrown  up  with  advantage  two  or 
three  times  every  day. 

Let  it  now  be  supposed  that  this  treatment  has  been  pursued 
two  or  three  days ; — if  the  discharges  are  more  faecal,  a  little  great- 
er in  quantity,  and  attended  by  less  pain  or  less  effort  in  the  expul- 
sion of  them,  that  purpose  has  been  eff"ected  which  the  piactitioner 
was  anxious  to  accomplish,  and  he  must  look  about  for  other  mea- 
sures ;  or,  if  the  st^te  of  the  animal  remain  the  same,  it  will  be 
useless  longer  to  pursue  this  plan.  Then  the  surgeon  refers  once 
more  to  the  character  of  the  malady — inflammation  of  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  large  intestines — and  he  asks  what  he  can  bring  in 
direct  contact  with  the  diseased  surface,  that  is  likely  to  allay  irrita- 
fion  or  to  abate  inflammation.     Opium  immediately  presents  itself,  at 


344  CATTLE. 

once  an  astringent  and  an  anodyne — rui  astringent,  because  it  is  an 
anodyne — and  he  determines  to  give  it  in  doses  of  half  a  drachm, 
and  in  the  best  form  in  which  it  can  be  administered,  namely,  in  that 
of  powder,  mixed  with  thick  gruel.  He  likewise  adds  it  to  the  gruel 
of  the  injection,  either  under  the  form  of  powder,  or  he  boils  a  few 
poppy-heads  in  water,  and  then  causes  the  gruel  to  be  made  with 
the  decoction. 

Here  all  practitioners  seem  to  agree.  Whether  they  prepare  the 
way  for  the  opium  by  the  administration  of  an  aperient,  or  whether, 
deceived  by  the  state  of  purging,  they  give  it  at  once,  they  are  all 
anxious  to  try  the  power  of  this  drug  ;  but  too  many  of  them,  either 
forgetting  or  not  knowing  the  nature  of  the  disease,  add  medicines  of 
an  opposite  character,  and  that  cannot  fail  of  being  injurious.  They 
administer  astringents  and  tonics,  which  are  useful  and  indispensable 
in  a  later  stage  of  the  treatment,  but,  while  the  inflammation  re- 
mains unsubdued,  are  only  adding  fuel  to  fire.  There  are  too  many 
practitioners  who  scruple  not  to  give  alum  and  sulphate  of  zinc  as 
soon  as  they  are  called  in  to  such  a  case,  and  before  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  intestines  is  prepared  for  their  action.  These  drugs 
are  acrid — they  are  caustic  as  well  as  astringent — they  are  astrin- 
gent because  they  are  caustic,  and  they  too  frequently  set  up  an- 
other and  destructive  inflammation. 

It  is  usual,  however,  to  add  something  to  the  opium,  in  order  to 
increase  or  to  regulate,  or  to  modify  its  power;  and  that  which  is 
without  comparison  the  most  serviceable  is  one  of  the  mild  prepara- 
tions of  mercury,  viz.,  calomel,  or  the  blue  pill,  or  mercur}-  triturated 
with  chalk.  Mere  theory  might  induce  the  fear  that  mercury  would 
add  to  the  irritation  already  too  unmanageable,  and  so  it  would,  if 
given  alone  ;  but,  combined  with  and  guarded  by  the  opium,  it  has 
the  most  beneficial  eff'ect :  the  opium  does  not  produce  costiveness — 
the  calomel  does  not  gripe  and  purge,  but  irritation  is  allayed,  while 
the  natural  action  of  the  bowels  is  promoted. 

In  order  that  this  mode  of  treatment  may  have  a  fair  chance,  the 
beast  should  be  housed  and  fed  on  bran-mashes,  a  little  hay,  and 
plenty  of  well  boiled  gruel.  While  the  patient  continues  at  grass, 
the  practitioner  has  no  chance,  however  skillful  in  other  respects  his 
treatment  may  be.  So  much  depends  on  the  avoidance  of  all  green 
and  succulent  food,  that  many  a  beast,  from  whom  every  symptom  of 
dysentery  had  disappeared,  has  relapsed,  and  been  lost,  from  having 
been  turned  out  too  soon.  The  green  food  of  one  day  has  produced 
irreparable  mischief. 

There  are  other  auxiliary  measures  which  deserve  consideration. 
Setons  in  the  dewlap  have  been  strongly  recommended.  They  may 
be  useful  when  much  fever  accompanies  the  early  stage  of  dysentery, 
for  the}'  will,  in  some  measure,  divert  the  current  of  blood  from  the 
inflamed  and  irritated  part,  and  thus  lessen  the  local  inflammation 


DIARRHCEA  AND  DYSENTERY  34i 

and  discharge,  and  also  the  general  fever ;  but  no  very  material  de- 
gree of  benefit  can  be  expected  from  them ;  and  there  certainly 
cannot  be  that  importance  which  is  sometimes  attached  to  the  sub- 
stance or  the  root  that  is  inserted.  The  common  cord,  or  hair-rope, 
will  answer  every  purpose  :  the  black  hellebore  root,  however,  pro- 
duces the  speediest  inflammation  and  the  most  copious  discharge. 

Fomentation  of  the  right  flank  and  the  right  side  of  the  belly  with 
hot  water,  or,  in  acute  cases,  the  blistering  of  those  parts,  will  be  far 
more  serviceable  than  any  seton  in  the  dewlap  can  possibly  be. 

That  admirable  disinfectant,  the  chloride  of  lime,  promises  to  be 
of  essential  service  in  the  treatment  of  dysentery ;  not  only  in  chang- 
ing the  nature  of  the  intestinal  discharge,  and  depriving  it  of  all 
its  putridity,  but  in  disposing  the  surface  of  the  intestine,  with  which 
it  may  be  brought  into  contact,  to  assume  a  more  healthy  character. 
When  applied  externally  to  wounds  and  ulcers  of  every  kind,  it 
effects  wonders  in  both  of  these  respects  ;  and,  being  properly 
diluted,  it  has  not  been  found  to  give  any  great  pain,  or  dangerously 
to  increase  inflammation  in  the  most  irritable  ulcer.  It  may  be  ad- 
ministered either  by  the  mouth,  or  in  the  form  of  clyster.  The 
practitioner  will  probably  avail  himself  of  its  aid  in  both  forms.  It 
should  not  be  mingled  with  any  other  drug  ;  but  half  an  ounce  of 
the  solution,  or  a  drachm  of  the  powder,  may  be  mixed  with  a 
quart  of  water,  and  given  between  the  regular  periods  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  other  remedies. 

The  reader  will  mind  the  caution  as  to  the  mode  of  administering 
liquid  medicine  to  cattle  ;  for  in  a  disease  so  serious  and  so  fatal  as 
d)''senter}%  it  cannot  be  too  deeply  impressed  on  the  mind  of  the 
practitioner.  Whether  the  medicine  be  given  by  means  of  the  horn 
or  the  pump,  it  should  flow  as  gently  as  possible  down  the  gullet, 
that  it  may  not  break  through  the  floor  of  the  oesophagean  canal, 
but  have  a  better  chance  of  passing  on  to  the  fourth  stomach  and 
the  intestines. 

In  this,  as  well  as  in  the  chronic  stage  of  dysentery,  a  great  deal 
more  depends  upon  attending  to  the  comfort  of  the  animal  than  too 
many  seem  to  believe.  The  patient  should  be  housed,  and  well  lit- 
tered down,  and,  in  some  cases,  moderately  clothed.  Of  his  food, 
little  portions  at  a  time  should  be  culled  for  him  and  off"ered  to  him  ; 
and  warm  gruel  and  warm  mashes  should  be  frequently  put  within 
his  reach.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  more  benefit  is  connected 
with  that  one  word  comfort,  than  can  be  procured  from  half  the 
drugs  which  the  veterinary  pharmacopoeia  contains. 

In  many  cases,  and  in  every  case  that  can  be  brought  to  a  suc- 
cessful termination,  it  will  be  observed,  after  the  perseverance  of  ten 
days  or  a  fortnight  in  this  mode  of  treatment,  that  the  pain  preceding 
and  accompanying  the  evacuations  is  materially  lessened,  and  that 
the  nature  of  the  matter  evacuated  is  changed.  The  stools  will  pro- 
16* 


846  OaTTLE. 


bably  be  as  frequent ;  they  will  be  more  copious  ;  but  less  mucua 
will  be  found  in  them,  and  they  will  have  become  more  decidedly 
faecal  and  not  so  offensive.  Tiie  belly  will  be  less  tender;  the  coun- 
tenance less  anxious  ;  the  general  appearance  improved.  The  inllam- 
mation  of  the  inner  surface  of  the  large  intestines  will  have  materi- 
ally subsided,  but  the  habit  of  purgation  will  continue  for  a  while, 
and  will  be  increased  by  the  state  of  relaxation  and  debility  in 
which  the  vessels  are  left.  'J  hen,  but  not  until  then,  astringents 
•will  be  admissible  and  highly  beneficial. 

Catechu  stands  at  the  head  of  this  class  of  medicines  in  such  a 
case  ;  and  its  power  may  be  increased  by  the  addition  of  oak  bark, 
or  it  may  be  given  in  a  decoction  of  oak  bark.  The  opium  must  not, 
however,  be  omitted  ;  for  although  direct  inflammation  may  have 
been  subdued,  and  relaxation  and  debility  have  followed,  much  irrita- 
bility may  remain,  to  control  which  the  soothing  power  of  opium  will 
be  required. 

To  catechu  and  opium  it  has  been  usual  to  add  chalk ;  for  in  all 
these  diseases  there  is  a  tendency  in  the  stomach,  and  probably  in  the 
intestinal  canal,  to  generate  a  considerable  quantity  of  acid.  A 
greater  source  of  irritation  can  scarcely  be  imagined  when  the  state 
of  the  lining  merabrance  of  the  large  intestine  is  taken  into  considera- 
tion. The  chalk,  or  the  carbonic  acid  of  the  chalk,  will  unite  with 
and  neutralize  this  acid,  and  render  it  harmless.  Theoretic  chemistry- 
would  lead  to  the  substitution  of  magnesia  for  the  chalk,  for  the 
carbonic  acid  being  withdrawn,  it  might  be  feared  that  the  caustic 
lime  would  be  injurious ;  but  experience  has  proved  that  magnesia  is 
not  so  efficacious  in  cattle ;  that,  in  fact,  it  seems  to  be  almost  inert, 
while  chalk  has  usually  answered  the  purpose  intended,  and  no 
inconvenience  has  resulted  from  it. 

Some  practitioners  strangely  mingle  vegetable  and  mineral  tonics 
together,  forgetful  of  the  decomposition  which  frequently,  or  almost 
constantly,  ensues,  anc'  the  impairment  or  total  loss  of  medicinal  power. 
Vegetable  astringents  agree  best  with  the  constitution  of  cattle,  and 
they  will  not  often  deceive. 

'i'he  nature  of  the  disease,  however,  being  considered,  will  the 
practioner  confine  himself  to  the  astringents  ?  He  has  now  to  strug- 
gle with  the  consequences  of  inflammation — the  weakness  and  want 
of  tone  which  inflammation  has  produced,  not  only  in  the  part  itself 
but  in  the  whole  system.  He  will  also  take  into  consideration  the 
natural  temperament  and  constitution  of  cattle  ;  and  that  they  will 
not  bear  disease,  nor  the  treatment  of  disease,  like  some  other  animals. 
Diseases  speedily  run  their  course  in  cattle,  and  the  patients  often 
sink  under  the  prompt  and  vigorous  and  scientific  treatment  of  the 
maladv.  An  ox  may  bear  one  copious  bleeding  well ;  but  he  cannot 
be  bled  again  and  again.  He  will  derive  the  usual  advantage  from 
purgation  to  a  certain  extent,  but  cai'e  n^nst  be  taken  lest  it  degen- 


DIARRHCEA  AND  DYSENTERY.  Ml 

crate  into  the  disease  which  is  novr  under  consideration.  The  practi- 
tioner will  therefore  mingle  stomachics,  and  probably  tonics,  with  his 
astringents,  in  this  case.  Here  also  he  will  find  the  vegetable  the 
best.  Experience  of  its  beneficial  effect  has  made  ginger  a  necessary- 
ingredient  in  almost  every  medicine,  unless  the  animal  evidently 
labors  under  fever.  Gentian  is  an  admirable  tonic  and  stomachic ; 
and  if  to  these  be  added  Colombo  and  cascarilla,  there  is  sufficient 
choice.  The  proportions  of  the  different  medicines  will  necessarily 
vary  with  the  age  and  strength  of  the  animal,  and  the  character, 
duration,  and  ravages  of  the  disease. 

Vegetable  astringents  and  tonics  having  been  fairly  tried,  and 
either  not  producing  the  desired  effect,  or  beginning  to  lose  their 
power,  the  mineral  ones  may  be  resorted  to.  The  preference  should 
undoubtedly  be  given  to  alum,  and  that  in  the  common  and  very 
convenient  form  of  alum  whey.  (See  List  of  Medicines.)  To  this 
the  usual  quantity  of  ginger  may  be  added  without  producing  decora- 
position  ;  and,  if  it  should  be  deemed  advisable,  the  opium  may  be 
continued.  Should  this  not  succeed,  or  not  to  the  full  extent  wished, 
blue  vitriol  (sulphate  of  copper)  may  be  substituted  ;  and  to  this 
the  opium  will  be  a  necessary  auxiliary.  The  dose  should  be  about 
one  drachm  of  the  former  and  half  a  drachm  of  the  latter.  There  is 
no  other  mineral  astringent  or  tonic  that  can  be  depended  on  or  safely 
given. 

Clysters  should  not  be  neglected  in  this  stage  of  the  disease. 
With  the  assistance  of  the  injection-pump,  the}^  promise  to  be  as 
efficacious  as  any  medicines  that  can  be  administered  bv  the  mouth, 
for  they  may  be  brought  into  immediate  contact  with  the  inflamed  or 
ulcerated  surface.  Gruel  may  be  made  with  a  decoction  of  poppy- 
heads,  already  recommended.  To  this  may  succeed  an  infusion  of 
catechu,  decoction  of  oak-bark,  and  with  or  without  opium  ;  and 
possibly  a  weak  solution  of  alum  or  blue  vitriol.  The  practitioner 
will  here,  however,  proceed  with  considerable  caution. 

The  malady  being  apparently  subdued,  there  will  be  need  for  much 
caution  in  the  after-treatment  of  the  animal.  He  must  not  soon 
return  altogether  to  green  meat,  and  more  especially  not  to  luxuriant 
pasture.  The  best  way  to  prevent  diarrhoea  is  to  continue  to 
give  a  small  quantity  of  hay  for  some  time  after  turning  to  grass,  and 
not  to  keep  him  too  many  hours  at  a  time  from  water.  When 
coming  on,  keep  the  ox  as  much  as  possible  on  hay  and  bran,  and  let 
him  have  water  often  in  small  quantities. 

For  a  long  period  after  a  severe  attack  of  this  complaint,  the  animal 
will  be  subject  to  occasional  diarrhoea,  and  will  require  careful  man- 
agement. The  best  thing  to  be  done  is  to  get  him,  as  quickly  as  the 
state  of  his  constitution  will  admit,  into  fair  condition,  and  sell  him  ; 
but  there  will  be  some  difficulty  in  accomplishing  this,  for  abundance 
even  of  the  most  wholesome  food  will  oftei   be  more  than  his  debili- 


348  CATTLE. 


tated  powers  of  digestion  can  manage,  and  hoove,  or  diarrhoea,  or 
dysentery,  will  ensue.  At  the  best,  he  will  rarely  be  got  beyond  fair 
condition,  and  with  that  the  farmer  must  be  content.  While  there  are 
many  cases  of  permanent  recovery  from  dysentery,  there  are  but  few 
cases  in  which  the  patient  has  afterwards  grazed  and  fatted  as  well 
as  any  other  beast. 

However  perfect  may  seem  to  be  the  cure,  the  animal  that  has 
once  been  a  decided  shooter  should  never  be  bred  from.  There  is  a 
taint  about  him  which  will  almost  certainly  be  communicated  to  his 
stock.  Dysentery  is  not  only  the  pest  of  certain  districts,  and  espe- 
cially of  cold  and  wet  ones,  but  of  certain  breeds.  But  there  is  not 
the  slightest  reason  for  believing  that  the  dysentery  of  cattle  is 
contagious.  * 

As  the  large  intestines  are  the  principal,  and,  in  most  cases,  the 
only  seat  of  that  inflammation  which  is  characterized  by  the  term 
dysentery,  other  intestines  are  occasionally  subject  to  maladies  either 
peculiar  to  them,  or  in  which  the  neighboring  viscera  participate  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — When  slight,  dysentery  resembles  severe 
diarrhoea,  and  requires  the  remedies  which  have  been  indicated  under 
the  head  of  the  latter  disease. 

After  some  doses  of  aconitum,  arsenicum  is  to  be  given,  especially 
when  the  evacuations  are  liquid,  or  of  a  greenish  color.  However, 
mercurius  vivus  is  the  chief  remedy  for  this  disease,  more  especially 
when  it  occurs  under  an  epidemic  form,  a  thing  which  is  not  unusual 
in  spring  and  at  the  commencement  of  summer,  when  very  warm 
days  alternate  with  cold  nights.  This  remedy  is  specially  indicated 
when  the  gums  are  pale  and  spongy,  the  teeth  loose,  the  saliva  from 
the  mouth  viscid  and  fetid,  when  there  are  frequent  efforts  to  empty 
the  bowels,  with  a  discharge  of  fetid  wind,  and  scanty  dejections 
mixed  with  mucus,  which  presently  assume  a  greenish  gray,  or  a 
brown  tint,  or  which,  accompanied  with  mucus  and  blood,  pass  away 
in  a  liquid  form  after  great  efforts ;  the  belly  is  swollen  and  painful 
to  the  touch,  as  also  the  lumbar  region ;  the  rectum  projects  outside 
the  anus ;  it  becomes  much  inflated  and  extremely  sensitive. 

In  calves,  diarrhoea,  accompanied  with  emaciation  and  loss  of 
appetite,  very  often  puts  on  the  dysenteric  character ;  the  animal 
every  moment  passes  liquid  matter  of  a  greenish  or  yellowish  color. 
In  such  a  case,  pulsatilla  is  a  specific.  Benefit  has  also  been  obtained 
from  chamomilla,  and,  when  the  evacuations  were  white,  from  mer- 
curius vivus. 

COLIO. 

Of  this  disease  there  are  two  varieties.  The  one  is  flatulex-p 
COLIC,  arising  from  the  distension  of  certam  portions  of  the  intestines^ 


COLIC.  84S 


occasioned  by  the  food  contained  in  them  undergoing  a  process  of 
fermentation.  The  pain  which  the  animal  evidently  suffers,  his  moan- 
ings,  his  striking  at  his  belly  with  his  hind  feet,  a  swelling  on  the 
right  side  of  the  belly,  the  occasional  discharge  of  gas  from  the  mouth 
and  anus,  constant  restlessness,  continual  getting  up  and  lying  down 
again  immediately,  and  all  this  accompanied  by  fever,  would  induce 
the  suspicion  that  the  animal  was  laboring  under  flatulent  colic. 

Thei-e  are  various  reasons,  however,  why  cattle  should  seldom  be 
subject  to  this  complaint.  By  the  maceration  which  the  food  under- 
goes in  the  paunch,  and  the  second  mastication  to  Avhich  it  is  sub- 
jected in  rumination,  it  is  prepared  for  speedy  and  perfect  digestion. 
There  is  neither  time  nor  disposition  in  the  substances  contained  in 
the  intestinal  canal  for  this  process  of  fermentation  to  be  set  up  ;  and 
if  there  were,  there  are  no  labyrinthine  irregularities  to  detain  the 
gas,  but  it  would  be  readily  pressed  on  by  the  common  peristaltic 
motion  of  the  bowels,  and  expelled.  Spasmodic  colic  has  sometimes 
been  mistaken  for  that  which  has  been  occasioned  by  the  distension 
of  the  bowels ;  or,  more  frequenty,  inflammation  of  the  outer  coat  of 
the  intestines  has  been  confounded  with  JIatulent  colic. 

This  species  of  colic  will  generally  be  relieved  by  the  administration 
of  almost  any  aromatic  drink  ;  but  the  chloride  of  lime,  as  in  hoove, 
is  most  to  be  depended  upon.  Two  drachms  of  the  chloride  dis<^olved 
in  a  quart  of  warm  water,  to  which  an  ounce  of  the  tincture  of  ginger, 
(or  two  drachms  of  the  powdered  ginger,)  and  twenty  drops  of  essence 
of  peppermint  have  been  added,  will  form  one  of  the  most  effectuai 
colic  drinks  that  can  be  administered.  The  choride  unites  with  the 
extricated  hydrogen  gas,  and  causes  it,  or  the  greater  part  of  it,  to 
disappear  ;  while  the  aromatic  stimulates  the  intestme  to  contract 
upon  and  force  forward  and  expel  any  small  portion  that  may  remain. 

The  beast  should  be  walked  about ;  exercise  alone  will  sometimesi 
cause  the  gas  to  be  expelled  ;  but  the  owner  must  not  adopt  the 
dangerous  expedient  of  driving  or  worrying  the  beast  with  dogs, 
otherwise  he  may  produce  strangulation,  or  nelting,  or  rupture  of  the 
intestines. 

Should  the  first  dose,  and  gentle  exercise  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
not  produce  relief,  a  purgative  drink  should  be  given,  and  that  of  ap 
aloetic  nature,  as  more  hkely  to  operate  speedily.  Take  of  Barbadoes 
aloes  four  ounces,  pimento  powdered  tw^o  ounces,  and  gum  Arabic  two 
ounces;  pour  on  them  a  quart  of  boiUn;^  water;  stir  the  mixture 
well,  and  often  ;  when  it  is  cold,  add  half  a  pint  of  spirit  of  wine,  and 
bottle  the  whole  for  use  :  shake  the  bottle  well  before  the  requisite 
quantity  is  poured  out.  Clysters  of  warm  w^ater,  or  thin  gruel, 
should  not  be  neglected,  and  with  each  clyster  two  ounces  of  th^ 
aloetic  tincture  should  be  administered.  Friction  on  the  belly  and 
flanks  is  occasionally  useful,  and,  in  obstinate  cases,  it  will  be  advisa- 
ble to  stimulate  the  whole  of  the  belly  with  spirit  of  turpentine  well 


850  CA':  TLE. 


rubbed  in.  In  very  bad  cases,  but  not  until  other  remedies  have 
been  apphed,  it  will  be  useful  to  bleed.  Waini  mashes,  warm  gruel, 
and  good  old  hay,  should  constitute  the  food  of  the  beast  for  some 
time  afterwards. 

A  more  prevalent  species  of  colic,  is  the  spasmodic.  It  is  spasm, 
or  contraction  of  a  portion  or  portions  of  the  small  intestines,  and 
accompanied  by  more  excruciating  pain  than  the  former.  The  ani- 
mal is  exceedingly  uneasy,  lowing,  pawing,  striking  at  his  belly  with 
his  hind  legs  or  his  horns ;  continually  lying  down  and  getting  up, 
becoming  very  irritable,  and  sometimes  being  dangerous  to  handle. 
It  is  distinguished  from  flatulent  colic  by  the  smaller  quantity  of  gas 
that  is  expelled,  the  comparative  absence  of  tension  or  enlargement 
of  the  belly,  the  more  evident  spasms  relaxing  for  a  little  while,  and 
then  returning  with  increased  violence,  and  the  freedom  with  which 
the  animal  moves  during  the  remissions. 

The  feeding  on  acrid  plants,  or  even  on  healthy  food  too  great  in 
quantity  or  too  nutritive,  the  commencement  of  feeding  on  grains,  ex- 
posure to  cold  after  work,  the  drinking  of  too  cold  water,  and  espe- 
cially after  exercise,  or  of  water  impregnated  with  metallic  salts,  are 
occasional  causes.  More  dangferous  ones  are  the  lono-  continuance  of 
purging,  and  also  the  long  continuance  of  costiveness.  The  treat- 
ment will  be  the  same,  except  that  as  this  proceeds  from  irritation  in 
the  intestinal  canal  general]}',  or  in  particular  portions  of  it,  which  is 
apt  to  run  on  to  inflammation,  bleeding  will  be  earlier  resorted  to ; 
and  the  practitioner  will  not  suffer  the  first  symptom  of  inllamma- 
tioH  to  appear,  without  adopting  the  best  method  of  subduing  it. 
After  every  case  of  colic,  whether  flatulent  or  spasmodic,  the  animal 
will  require  some  attention  and  nursing,  for  in  both  of  them  the  in- 
testines are  considerably  weakened  and  predisposed  to  a  repetition  of 
the  attack,  and  there  are  few  maladies,  the  habit  of  the  recurrence 
of  which  is  so  soon  formed. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  curative  means  are  aconitum  (one 
or  two  doses),  and  then  arsenicum  (three  or  four  doses).  If  these 
remedies  diminish  the  sufferings  a  httle,  but  the  constipation  still 
contmues,  nux  vomica  is  given,  when  the  faecal  evacuations  are  in 
small  hard  lumps  ;  opium,  when  they  are  blackish,  as  if  burned,  and 
when  it  becomes  necessary  to  extract  them  from  the  rectum  with  the 
hand ;  plumbum  in  the  most  obstinate  cases,  where  the  rectum  is 
empty.  We  may  also  try  carlo  vegetahilis  and  colocynthis.  Consult 
the  ariicles  Diarrhoea  and  Distension  of  the  Rumen  by  Gas,  for  these 
two  symptoms  are  sometimes  associated  in  colic. 

STRANGULATION    OF    THE    INTESTINES. 

Spasmodic  colic,  if  neglected,  or  biddincr  defiance  to  medical  treat- 
ment, occasionally  leads  to  such  an  entanglement  of  different  parts  of 


THE  CORDS,  OR  GUT-TIE  851 

the  bowels  with  each  other,  that  they  become  tied  into  a  kind  of  knot, 
and  the  passage  of  food  along  them  is  obstructed.  When  the  small 
intestines  of  cattle  are  observed  hanging  loose,  as  it  were,  at  the  end 
of  the  mesenter3^  (see  fig.  2,  p.  330,)  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  if, 
in  the  disturbed,  increased,  hurried,  and  sometimes  inverted  peristaltic 
motion  which  takes  place  in  consequence  of  colic,  one  portion  of  the 
intestine  should  be  entangled  among  the  rest,  and  the  fatal  knot 
should  be  tied.  Occasionally  a  small  piece  of  fatty  matter  disengages 
itself  from  the  mesentery  and  hangs  floating  in  the  belly,  and  then, 
either  in  the  changes  of  situation  which  the  bowels  undergo  in  natu- 
ral exercise,  or  more  particularly  in  the  commotion  of  colic,  it  en- 
twines itself  round  a  portion  of  the  intestine,  and  obstructs  the  pass- 
age. These  twists,  and  loops,  and  knots,  are  sometimes  strangely 
intricate.  When  the  dead  animal  lies  before  the  practitioner,  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  unravel  them.  This  is  the  true  net  or  knot,  so 
dreaded  in  some  parts  of  the  country.  It  is  the  result  of  those 
colicky  pains  which  have  been  mistaken  for  strangulation,  and  which 
have  been  increased  and  hurried  on  to  the  production  of  this  involved 
state  by  the  absurd  and  brutal  measures  that  have  been  adopted. 
Strangulation  having  once  taken  place,  there  can  be  no  remedy.  All 
that  can  be  done  is  to  attack  every  case  of  colic  in  good  earnest,  as 
soon  as  it  is  perceived,  for  no  one  can  tell  how  soon  the  displacement, 
twist,  knot,  or  whatever  it  be,  will  occur  in  consequence  of  the  per- 
verted action  of  the  intestiaes,  or  the  violent  struggles  of  the  animal, 
caused  by  the  torture  which  he  endures. 

THE   CCRDS,   OR  GUT-TIE. 

This  is  another  singular  and  fatal  species  of  intestinal  strangula- 
tion. It  is  not  of  unfrequent  occurrence  in  some  districts,  and  espe- 
cially in  wet  and  marshy  situations :  it  is  peculiar  to  the  ox,  and  is 
rarely  observed  in  him  after  the  second  or  third  year.  The  beast 
shows  disinclination  to  food — rumination  is  suspended,  or  performed 
in  a  listless,  interrupted  manner — the  animal  appears  to  be  griped — 
he  strikes  at  his  belly  with  his  hind  legs — he  lies  down,  and,  as  he 
gets  up  again,  bows  his  back  in  an  extraordinary  way,  and  then,  all 
at  once,  stretching  out  every  limb,  he  gives  the  spinal  column  a 
somewhat  concave  form.  Small  quantities  of  fseces  are  voided,  min- 
gled with  mucus,  and  sometimes  with  blood  ;  and  if  the  animal  is 
examined,  by  introducing  the  hand  into  the  rectum,  he  evidently 
suffers  extreme  pain. 

The  ailment  is  referable  to  one  side  more  than  the  other,  and 
generally  to  the  left  side.  The  hind  leg  on  that  side  is  frequently 
advanced  and  then  retracted,  and,  in  some  cases,  becomes  partially 
paralyzed. 

These  symptDras  are  mor«^  and  more  alarming :  if  the  ox  can  be 


CATTLE. 


induced  to  eat,  the  griping  pains  are  immediately  increased — the 
belly  swells — the  countenance  becomes  anxious — the  ears,  the  horns, 
the  nose,  and  the  thighs  become  cold — the  pulse  is  small  and  accele- 
rated, and  scarcely  to  be  felt — the  breathing  is  laborious  and  heard 
at  a  distance — the  mouth  and  nostrils  are  pale.  The  disease  con- 
tinues during  six,  seven,  or  eight  days  :  it  yields  to  no  medicine — it 
is  aggravated  by  most  of  the  measures  adopted — it  is  especially  so  if 
the  beast  is  moved  about — and  at  length  death  terminates  the  period 
of  suffering. 

On  examination,  strangulation  of  some  part  of  the  intestine  is 
found,  and  generally  of  the  small  intestine.  It  is  tied  by  a  distinct 
and  evident  cord — in  some  cases  it  is  the  spermatic  cord,  which, 
after  castration  unskillfully  performed,  or  now  and  then  by  mere  ac- 
cident, has  been  retracted  into  the  belly,  and  has  become  enlarged, 
and  has  had  tumors  forming  on  it,  and  particularly  at  its  extremity. 
Oftener  it  is  an  adventitious  or  unnaturally  formed  membrane,  which 
becomes  entangled  round  the  intestine,  and  assumes  the  appearance 
of  a  cord. 

The  mode  of  operation,  in  castrating  bullocks,  is  often  very  absurd. 
Some  practitioners  pride  themselves  on  performing  it  with  scarcely 
the  loss  of  any  blood.  The}^  open  the  scrotum,  and  lay  bare  the  • 
spermatic  cord,  and  then,  by  mere  dint  of  pulling  and  twisting,  they 
tear  it  out.  There  is,  certainly,  no  bleeding,  and  the  portion  that 
remains  immediately  retracts  into  the  belly  ;  but  the  consequence  of 
all  this  violence  is  that  inflammation  ensues — tumors,  false  mem- 
branes are  formed,  and  the  foundation  is  laid  for  this  complaint. 
Others  draw  the  cord  out  as  far  as  they  can  without  tearing  it,  and 
then  cut  it  off  close  to  the  pelvis.  There  is  no  external  bleeding  in 
this  case  ;  but  there  is  bleeding  within  the  cavity  of  the  belly,  and  a 
source  of  irritation  is  set  up  by  the  presence  of  this  blood,  and  \  a- 
rious  abdominal  diseases  ensue,  and,  among  the  rest,  the  cords,  or 
gtit-tie. 

It  is  not,  however,  to  be  uniformly  traced  to  this  cause  alone.  It 
seems,  especially,  to  prevail  in  low  and  damp  situations — it  has  fol- 
lowed the  use  of  half  mouldy  and  unwh-.iesome  fodder — it  has 
seemed  to  be  connected  with  hard  work,  and  that  on  an  irregular  or 
steep  surface ;  and  some  have  imagined  that  it  is  most  prevalent 
where  the  floor  of  the  ox  stables  is  too  much  inclined,  on  account  of 
the  great  pressure  on  this  part  of  the  abdomen,  and  especially  in  the 
act  of  rising.  It  can  be  readily  believed  that  any  source  of  irritation, 
■whether  of  the  spermatic  cord,  or  of  the  intestines  lying  in  the 
neighborhood  of  it,  or  of  the  intestinal  canal  generally — in  fact,  that 
any  or  all  of  the  sources  of  common  colic  may  be  the  predisposing 
or  immediate  causes  of  this  species  of  strangulation. 

Although  it  has  been  stated  that  no  medicine  seems  to  be  of 
avail,  the  patient  should  not  be  abandoned.     There  is  an  operation. 


THE  CORDS.  C  R  GUT-TIE. 


Apparently  difficult  and  dangerous,  but  really  sincple,  easy  to  be  per- 
formed, and  generally  effectual. 

It  will  be  evident  that  this  operation  should  be  performed,  the 
side  line  being  used,  and  the  beast  remaining  standing  close  to  a 
wall,  and  fastened  to  it  as  well  as  circumstances  will  permit.  The 
incision  should  be  made  on  the  left  side,  and  taking,  as  the  centre  of 
it,  the  spot  at  which  the  flank  is  generally  punctured  in  cases  of 
hoove,  and  where  a  small  portion  of  the  jejunum,  and  that  which  is 
the  most  likely  to  be  entangled,  is  protruded  over  the  rumen,  and 
floats  by  itself  at  the  extremity  of  tha  mesentery.  It  should  be  a 
vertical  incision,  or  a  little  oblique,  in  a  direction  from  behind  for- 
ward. A  small  opening  should  first  be  made,  through  the  integu- 
ment and  muscle,  avoiding,  if  possible,  the  peritoneum.  Into  this 
the  first  and  second  fingers  of  the  left  hand  should  be  introduced, 
and  thus,  by  means  of  a  probe-pointed  bistoury,  guarded  and  guided 
by  these  fingers,  the  wound  may  be  enlarged  so  as  to  permit  the 
introduction  of  the  hand  of  the  operator.  There  will  probably  be  a 
considerable  gush  of  blood  when  the  external  oblique  is  first  divided, 
but  that  will  speedily  cease  by  the  retraction  of  the  artery. 

The  peritoneum  should  next  be  divided,  if  it  has  not  been  so 
already,  and  the  hand  of  the  surgeon,  the  arm  having  been  bared 
and  well  oiled,  should  be  introduced  into  the  wound  ;  the  epiploon 
or  cawl  gently  torn ;  and  the  hand  passed  among  the  intestines  in  a 
direction  upward  and  backward,  or  a  little  behind  the  kidneys.  'J'he 
operator  will  soon  feel  the  strangulated  part,  and  the  cord  by  which 
it  is  suspended  or  tied,  and  usually  attached  to  some  part  of  the 
pelvis.  Having  satisfied  himself  with  regard  to  the  situation  of  the 
cord,  he  will  withdraw  his  hand,  and,  taking  another  shorter  and 
more  curved  and  probe-pointed  bistoury,  and  having  it  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand,  and  guarding  the  cutting  edge  with  his  finger  and 
thumb,  he  will  introduce  it  into  the  abdomen,  find  out  the  cord  again, 
and  cautiously  divide  it.  The  hand  will  once  more  be  removed,  in 
order  to  get  rid  of  the  bistoury,  and  then  re-introduced  to  ascertain 
whether  the  whole  of  the  strangulated  part  has  been  liberated,  which 
is  easily  effected  by  tracing  all  the  neighboring  circumvolutions  and 
passing  them  through  the  hand. 

The  operator  being  satisfied  as  to  the  state  of  the  bowels,  brino-s 
the  edges  of  the  wound  together,  and  confines  them  by  a  sufficient 
number  of  stitches,  including  the  peritoneum,  muscle,  and  integu- 
ment, in  the  same  stitch.  A  pledget  of  tow  is  placed  over  the  wound, 
and  a  broad  bandage  passed  tigTitly  several  times  round  the  belly, 
which  must  not  be  removed  during  the  first  six  or  eight  days. 

The  majority  of  cattle  thus  operated  upon  are  saved,  and  the 
wound  is  usually  healed  in  somewhat  less  than  a  month.  It  may, 
however,  be  supposed  that  after  the  extensive  opening  into  the  abdo- 
minal e5.vity,  and  this  laceration  of  the  cawl,  and  groping  and  cutting 


354  CATTLE. 


among  the  intestines,  some  alarming  sj^mptoms  will  occasionally  ' 
supervene.  The  belly  will  sAvt^!\,  and  sometimes  to  a  considerable 
extent.  Fomentations  and,  if  necessary,  scarifications  may  be  resorted 
to.  There  may  be  manifest  symptoms  of  fever,  as  sliiverings,  heav- 
ing at  the  flanks,  and  cessation  of  rumination.  Blood  sliould  then 
be  abstracted,  according  to  the  state  of  the  patient ;  half-pound 
doses  of  Epsom  salts  should  be  given  morning  and  night,  until  the 
bowels  are  moderately  opened,  and  the  beast  should  have  little  be- 
sides mashes  and  gruel,  and  should  be  kept  as  quiet  as  porsible. 

INTROSUSCEPTION   OF  THE  BOWELS. 

This  is  another  fatal  consequence  of  colic.  While  certain  portions 
of  the  ileum  or  jejunum  generally,  but  occasionally  of  the  larger 
bowels,  are  distended  by  gas,  other  parts  are  spasmodically  contracted, 
and  then,  by  the  increased  peristaltic  motion  which  is  going  on,  the 
collapsed  part  of  the  superior  or  anterior  intestine  slides,  or  is  forced 
down,  into  the  distended  part  behind  ;  or,  by  that  inverted  action 
which  takes  place  in  the  intestine  commotion  of  colic,  a  contracted 
portion  of  the  bowel  slides  or  is  forced  into  the  distended  part  before, 
and  thus  one  intestine  is  strangely  contained  within  another,  and 
that  occasionally  reaching  to  a  considerable  e.vtent.  The  mesentery 
is  usually  torn  in  this  unnatural  procedure,  for  otherwise  that  too 
must  be  taken  up  or  carried  down  into  the  distended  intestine  above 
or  below. 

It  will  be  easily  conceived  that  this  will  inflict  great  torture  on  the 
beast,  and  an  examination  after  death  will  sufficiently  prove  the  in- 
tensity of  the  sufi"ering  ;  for  there  will  be  much  inflammation,  and 
generally  gangrene  of  the  involved  part ;  and  sometimes  of  both  por- 
tions of  the  intestine.  The  symptoms  by  which  the  practitioner  may 
be  induced  to  suspect,  or  may  know,  that  colic  has  run  on  to  intro- 
busception,  are  not  yet  determined.  Increase  of  pain,  attended  by 
obstinate  constipation,  rapid  prostration  of  strength,  and  compara- 
tively little  fever,  may  be  obscure  indications.  It  is  evident  that  this 
case  must  be  beyond  the   reach  of  medical  skill. 

INVERSION  OF  THE  RECTUM. 

It  has  occasionally  happened  in  the  straining  of  diarrhoea,  and  in 
the  still  more  violent  eftbrts  with  which  the  faeces  are  expelled  in 
dysentery,  that  a  portion  of  the  rectum  is  protruded  from  the  anus  ; 
the  sphincter  muscle  of  the  anus  then  contracts  violently  upon  it, 
and  no  efi'ort  of  the  animal  can  draw  it  back,  nor  will  it  readily  yield 
to  any  external  force  employed.  The  blood  is  necessarily  congested 
in  the  protruded  intestine,  from  the  situation  of  the  part ;  the  gut  is 
intensely  red,  and  it  gradually  becomes  livid,  black,  gangrenous. 
The  animal  all  the  while  is  making  frequent  and  violent  eftbrts,  during 
which  small  quantities  of  excrement,  or  mucus,  or  blood,  or  gas,  are 


CONSTIPATION.  85a 


extricated ;  the  protrusion  of  the  gut  increases ;  irritative  fever  en- 
sues ;  and  death  speedily  follows. 

In  order  to  allay  irritation,  and  in  some  measure  lessen  these  efforts 
by  which  more  of  the  intestine  is  expelled  or  its  return  prevented, 
a  pint  of  castor  oil  with  two  drachms  of  opium  should  be  adminis- 
tered, and  a  quantity  of  blood,  varying  with  the  size  and  condition 
of  the  animal,  abstracted.  The  protruded  part  should  be  thoroughly 
cleaned,  and  diligently  fomented,  during  the  space  of  an  hour,  with 
a  decoction  of  poppy-heads,  lukewarm.  Gentle,  but  long-continued 
efiforts  should  then  be  made  to  return  the  intestine,  which  will  be 
accomplished  much  oftener  than  would  be  imagined  if  the  operator 
will  have  patience  enough.  The  gut  having"  been  returned,  cold 
water  should  be  applied  around  the  anus,  and  for  a  considerable 
time,  in  order  that  the  sphincter  muscle  may  more  powerfully  close, 
and  confine  the  intestine  in  its  proper  situation.  It  mav,  however, 
again  protrude,  but  it  should  be  immediately  returned,  and  care 
having  been  taken  to  allay  the  irritation  of  the  bowels  and  of  the 
system  generally,  the  straining  will  gradually  cease,  and  the  intestine 
will  no  longer  be  forced  out. 

If  the  protrusion  continues  in  despite  of  every  effort,  and  the  part 
begins  to  swell,  and  to  become  black,  and  fetid,  and  mortified,  and 
the  pulse  is  small,  and  the  mouth  hot,  and  the  ears  cold,  and  the 
muzzle  dry,  and  the  eyes  red,  and  the  appetite  and  rumination  are 
suspended,  and  the  animal  is  rapidly  becoming  weak,  the  practitioner 
must  have  recourse  to  a  bold  and  dangerous  operation,  but  which 
will  succeed  much  oftener  than  it  will  fail :  he  must  cut  off  the  pro- 
truded intestine  close  to  the  anus.  There  will  probably  be  considera- 
ble haemorrhage,  but  he  must  not  be  alarmed  at  that ;  it  will  be  bene- 
ficial rather  than  injurious  ;  it  will  prevent  or  abate  inflammation, 
and  it  will  cease  long  before  tlie  strength  of  the  patient  is  exhausted. 
The  little  portion  of  intestine  half  protruded  at  the  anus  will  gradu- 
ally return  ;  the  sphincter  muscle  will  contract ;  union  of  the  divided 
portions  of  the  intestine  will  take  place,  and  the  animal  will  perfectly 
recover. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — After  having  reduced  the  intestine,  pre- 
viously oiling  it,  we  should  prescribe  internally  belladonna  and  mer- 
eurius  vivus,  if  symptoms  of  inflammation  be  observed.  When  the 
accident  has  been  caused  by  the  effects  occasioned  by  constipation, 
this  is  a  case  for  recurring  to  murias  magnesia,  just  as  urgilla  is 
suitable  when  diarrhoea  is  the  cause  of  the  accident.  Arsenicum  also 
is  a  very  effectual  means  in  the  latter  case. 

CONSTIPATION. 

Tlie  immediate  cause  of  many  of  these  affections  of  the  bowels  is 
constipation.     The  beast  is  sapped  or  hound.     This  constipation  is 


356  CATTLE. 


often  exceedingly  difficult  to  remove,  not,  perhaps,  from  any  want  of 
power  in  the  intestinal  canal  to  be  acted  upon  by  purgative  medi- 
cines, but  from  the  impossibility  of  getting  any  considerable  propor- 
tion of  the  purgative  into  contact  with  the  internal  surface  of  the 
bowels.  It  has  already  been  observed  that  in  a  state  of  health  much 
of  the  fluid  swallowed  by  cattle  enters  into  the  rumen,  and  is  detained 
there  for  the  purpose  of  macerating  the  food  and  preparing  it  for 
rumination  ;  and  we  have  proof,  and  that  sufficiently  annoying,  that 
in  some  circumstances  of  disease,  all  the  fluid  swallowed  goes  into 
the  rumen,  and  is  lost  so  far  as  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  ad- 
ministered is  concerned.  It  has  not  unfrequently  happened  that  six, 
seven,  and  eight  days  have  passed,  and  the  bowels  have  remained  in 
a  constipated  state.  This  must  of  necesrity  aggravate  the  symptoms 
of  many  diseases,  and  lay  the  foundation  for  others. 

When  the  state  of  the  animal  indicates  the  administration  of  the 
Epsom  salts,  they  should  be  accompanied  by  the  usual  quantity  of 
some  aromatic,  (half  an  ounce  of  ginger,)  and  be  given  in  as  gentle  a 
Avay  as  possible.  There  can  scarcely  be  a  better  way  than  suffering 
it  to  run  from  a  long  narrow-necked  bottle  introduced  into  the  mouth. 
Should  not  this  operate  at  the  expected  time,  a  second  dose  should 
be  given,  and,  probably,  with  the  same  quantity  of  the  aromatic  ;  cer- 
tainly so  if  little  fever  be  present.  If  this,  however,  should  have  no 
effect,  it  is  very  probable  that  from  some  sympathetic  influence  ex- 
tending over  the  whole  of  the  digestive  organs,  the  roof  of  the  rumen 
is  open,  or  the  pillars  of  which  that  roof  is  composed  are  in  a  relaxed 
state,  and  yield  even  to  the  pressure  of  a  fluid  gently  poured  down 
the  gullet.  Then  the  next  dose  (for  the  purgative  must  be  continued 
until  it  does  operate,  and  the  nature  of  that  purgative,  and  the 
knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which  the  quantity  already  given  has 
been  disposed  of,  remove  all  fear  of  inflammation  or  superpurgation 
being  produced)  must  have  an  increased  proportion  of  aromatic,  in- 
creased in  defiance  of  existing  fever,  and  increased  to  the  full  extent 
to  which  the  practitioner  dares  to  go.  Probably,  a  cordial-drink  (an 
ounce  of  ginger  and  the  same  quantity  of  can-away  powder)  would  be 
given  with  advantage  ;  for  the  rumen  might  be  roused  to  its  natural 
action  by  the  stimulus,  and  the  pillars  of  its  roof  might  be  closed,  and 
the  next  dose  might  run  on  through  the  manyplus  into  the  abomasura. 
The  rumen  may  possibly  be  roused  to  act  in  another  way  ;  a  portion 
of  the  fluid  that  it  contains  may  be  injected  into  the  oesophagean 
canal  by  a  process  somewhat  resembling  that  by  which  the  pellet  of 
food  is  thrown  there  for  remastication  ;  and  the  muscles  of  that  canal, 
and  of  the  base  of  the  gullet,  not  being  able  to  grasp  it  because  it  is 
a  fluid,  it  will  necessarily  pass  on  through  the  manyplus  into  the 
fourth  stomach  and  intestines. 

It  is  by  some  mechanism  of  one  of  these  kinds  that  purging  is  at 
length  established  after  obstinate  cases  of  constipation  ;  or,  when  the 


WORMS.  S57 


animal  dies  and  almost  all  the  purgative  medicine  that  has  been  given 
iG  found  in  the  rumen,  it  is  because  that  stomach  has  not  been  suffi- 
ciently stimulated.  There  is  something  in  the  structure  of  cattle 
which  renders  certain  medical  rules  and  principles  altogether  inap- 
plicable, and  which,  in  defiance  of  all  fever,  occasionally  compels  us 
to  mingle  strange  doses  of  aromatics  and  stimulants  with  the  very 
meens  by  which  we  are  endeavoring  to  subdue  inflammation.  This  is 
a  very  important  consideration  in  the  treatment  of  disease. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  more  or  less  inflammatory  state 
which  generally  accompanies  it,  requires  that  we  commence  the 
treatment  with  a  dose  of  uconiticm.  The  most  effectual  means  then 
is  nux  vomica;  it  is  indicted  chiefly,  when  the  evacuations  from  the 
bowels  are  scanty,  haid,  covered  with  mucus,  and  when  the  animal 
frequently  draws  up  the  belly.  If  there  be  no  thirst,  we  should 
have  recourse  to  china  and  hryonia.  The  latter  remedy  is  also  suita- 
ble when  the  constipation  has  been  produced  by  cold,  a  circumstance 
in  which  it  frequently  alternates  with  diarrhoea.  Opium  and  argila 
must  be  employed  when  the  inactive  state  of  the  intestinal  tube 
allows  nothing  to  escape  from  the  body,  and  the  animal  remains  lying 
down,  though  evincing  no  pain.  In  very  obstinate  constipation, 
where  the  rectum  is  empty,  and  also  where  only  a  small  quantity  of 
matter  escapes,  which  is  not  very  hard,  plumbum  never  fails  to  be 
effectual. 

CALCULI. 

It  has  been  stated  (pp.  299  and  300)  that  various  concretions  are 
found  in  the  rumen  of  cattle.  It  is  the  natural  situation  for  them, 
for  there  the  food  is  longest  detained,  and  there  they  have  time  to 
form.  A  few,  but  much  smaller,  calculi  are  occasionally  found  in 
the  reticulum  ;  others,  composed  of  thin  and  friable  concentric  layers, 
occupy,  yet  comparatively  rarely,  the  large  intestines  of  cattle ;  but 
they  also  are  not  of  great  size,  for  the  food  passes  too  rapidly  over 
the  smooth  surface  of  these  portions  of  the  digestive  canal.  There 
are  no  symptoms  by  which  their  presence  can  be  recognized,  nor  is 
there  any  evidence  of  their  being  the  cause  of  disease,  although  it  is 
not  improbable  that  the  presence  and  pressure  of  tliese  bodies,  and 
the  irritation  produced  by  them,  may  in  some  instances  be  the  cause 
of  colic,  strangulation,  and  other  serious  aft'ections. 


These  occasionally  are  found  in  the  intestines  of  cattle,  but  in  no 
great  quantities  ;  nor  are  there  any  authenticated  accounts  of  their 
being  the  cause  of  irritation  or  disease.  The  food  is  so  perfectly 
prepared  for  digestion,  and  that  process  is  so  rapidly  accomplished, 
and  the  nutriment  is  so  completely  extracted,  that  there  is  little  left 
for  the  support  of  worms;  n^r,  if  they   are  received  into  the  intes- 


358  CATTLE. 

•tines  in  the  state  of  ova,  or  egcfs,  would  they  be  hkely  to  escape  the 
processes  of  digestion  \vhich  take  phice  in  cattle. 

The  Amphistoma  conicum,  a  worm  with  a  mouth,  or  the  appear- 
ance of  one,  at  each  end,  and  often  found  plentifully  in  the  intestines 
of  birds,  frequently  inhabits  the  rumen  and  reticulum  of  cattle.  It 
is  here  of  considerably  larger  size,  and  swells  into  a  somewhat  coni- 
cal form. 

The  TcBnia  denticulata,  the  denticulated  tape-worm,  small  in  size, 
and  the  neck  becoming  fine,  and  sometimes  almost  thread-like,  ia 
found  in  the  fourth  stomach  and  in  the  small  intestines. 

The  Lumhricus  teres,  the  common  intestinal  round  worm,  lives  in 
the  small  intestines. 

A  small  species  of  the  Strongylus  is  a  frequent  companion  of  the 
last ;  and  another  small  long  worm,  the  Tricocephalus  affinis,  with 
its  minute  head  attached  to  its  lengthened  and  thread-like  neck,  has 
been  discovered  in  the  caecum. 

The  presence  of  these  worms  is  rarely  taken  into  account  by  the 
practitioner,  and  few  means  are  taken  for  their  expulsion. 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  hydatid  {Cosnurvs  cere- 
bralis)  inhabiting  the  brain  ;  and  others  ( Cysticerci  ienuicolles) 
found  in  the  liver,  the  lungs,  the  spleen,  and  in  the  peritoneum  and 
the  pleura ;  the  Strongylus  filaris,  occupying  the  bronchial  tubes  of 
cattle,  and  the  Distoma  hepaticum,  the  Jluke  worm,  swimming  in  the 
biliary  ducts. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  chief  remedy  is  china,  in  multiplied 
doses,  and  then  sulphur  ;  if  there  be  a  dislike  for  food,  antimoiuum 
crudum  should  be  given. 


DROPSY. 

This  is  an  accumulation  of  fluid  in  the  cavity  of  the  belly.  The 
whole  of  that  cavity  is  lined  with,  and  every  viscus  which  it  contains 
is  covered  by,  a  polished  glistening  membrane,  so  that  the  contents  of 
the  abdomen  may  glide  over  and  move  easily  among  each  other,  and 
the  injurious  effects  of  friction  be  as  much  as  possible  avoided.  In  a 
state  of  health  there  are  certain  vessels  which  continually  secrete  or 
pour  out  the  fluid  that  is  requisite  for  this  purpose,  and  which  are 
called  exhalent  vessels ;  and  there  are  others  that  take  this  fluid  up 
and  carry  it  into  the  circulation  when  it  has  discharged  its  duty,  or 
when  it  is  secreted  in  undue  quantities,  and  which  are  denominated 
absorbent  vessels.  Dropsy,  then,  is  the  consequence  of  the  pouring 
out  of  an  undue  quantity  of  fluid,  and  faster  than  the  absorbents  can 
carry  it  away  ;  or  it  is  the  pouring  out  of  the  natural  quantity  while 
the  absorbents  are  paralyzed,  or  do  not  do  their  duty  in  removing  it; 
and  in  either  way  it  accumulates  in  the  abdomen.  It  is  easy,  there- 
fore, to  suppose,  that  when  the  lining  nt^mbrane  generally,  or  a  por- 


DROPSY.  239 

tion  of  it,  is  inflamed,  and  a  greater  quantity  of  blood  than  usual  is 
determined  to  that  part,  the  secretion  from  the  exhalent  vessels  will 
be  increased  ;  and  in  consequence  of  this  there  will  be  accumulation 
of  fluid  in  the  bag  of  the  heart,  when  that  oigan,  or  its  investing 
membrane,  is  inflamed ;  dropsy  in  the  chest  will  be  the  consequence 
of  pleurisy,  and  dropsy  of  the  abdomen  that  of  inflammation  of  the 
peritoneal  membrane  generally,  or  of  any  part  of  it.  Chronic  inflam- 
mation of  the  liver  or  spleen,  or  of  any  particular  portion  of  the  intes- 
tinal canal,  will  have  the  same  termination  from  increased  action  of 
the  exhalents  ;  a  similar  eS"ect  will  occasionally  be  produced  by  the 
sudden  stopping  of  any  long-continued  evacuation,  or  acute  or 
chronic  eruption  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  feeding  in  low,  marshy 
situations,  the  privation  of  wholesome  ahment,  and  every  cause  of 
general  debility,  will  produce  an  accumulation  of  fluid  from  loss  of 
po\       in  the  absorbents. 

0.  6ute  dropsy  the  practitioner  has  occasional  examples.  A 
beast,  nparently  well  on  the  preceding  day,  suddenly  exhibits 
manife^  symptoms  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  The  disease 
proceeds  in  defiance  of  all  medical  treatment,  and  in  two  or  three 
days  the  patient  is  lost.  On  examination  after  death,  the  traces  of 
inflammation  of  the  peritoneum  are  sufficiently  evident ;  there  is 
deposition  of  flocculent  matter  ;  there  are  adhesions,  but,  most  impor- 
tant of  all,  the  belly  is  filled  with  clear,  or  turbid,  or  bloody  fluid, 
and  the  death  of  the  animal  was  as  much  occasioned  by  the  irritation 
produced  by  the  pressure  of  this  fluid,  and  the  labor  of  breathing 
which  it  occasioned,  as  by  the  previous  or  still-existing  inflammation. 

Of  chronic  dropsy,  or  a  slower  filling  of  the  belly,  he  has  more 
frequent  proof.  The  beast  increases  slowly  in  size  ;  it  is  an  enlarge- 
ment, not  of  the  left  side  as  in  hoove,  or  of  the  right  as  in  flatulent 
colic,  but  of  the  belly  generally,  and  sometimes  almost  as  slow  as  in 
the  increase  of  condition.  It  evidently  is  not  that,  for  the  limbs  are 
wasting,  or  if  they  occasionally  increase  in  size,  it  is  a  pufty  cedema- 
tous  enlargement,  and  not  the  accumulation  of  flesh  and  fat.  The 
animal  at  the  same  time  is  dull ;  disinclined  to  move  ;  the  skin  is 
dry  ;  the  coat  is  rough  ;  the  thirst  is  excessive ;  there  is  alternate 
constipation  and  diarrhoea  ;  the  membranes  of  the  mouth  and  nose  are 
pale,  and  the  conjunctiva  is  of  a  feint  yellow.  By  degrees  the  belly 
drops,  and  leav^es  a  considerable  hollow  at  the  flanks,  and  by  tapping 
on  the  sides  the  evident  fluctuation  of  water  can  be  perceived.  The 
pressure  of  the  fluid  on  the  diaphragm  lessens  the  cavity  of  the  chest, 
and  does  not  leave  sufficient  room  for  the  lungs  to  expand  ;  labor  of 
breathing  ensues — it  increases  ;  the  animal  is  not  able  to  stand  long, 
and  when  he  lies  down  the  respiration  is  so  difficult,  and  the  feeling 
of  suffocation  is  so  strong,  that  he  scrambles  up  again  as  quli'klv  as 
his  remaining  strength  will  permit,  and  at  length  dies,  either  of  abso- 
lute suff'ocation  or  mere  debility. 


CATTLE. 


The  chance  of  success  in  the  treatment  of  such  a  disease  must  be 
little.  The  first  object  is  to  relieve  the  sad  oppression  under  which 
the  animal  labors,  and  that  must  be  effected  by  puncturing  the  belly, 
and  suffering  the  fluid  to  escape.  There  is  neither  art  nor  danger 
about  the  operation.  The  beast  should  be  tied  up  close,  and  a  side 
line  put  on  ;  a  puncture  should  be  made  with  a  lancet  or  trochar 
under  the  belly,  six  or  eight  inches  from  the  udder,  and  half  as  much 
from  the  middle  line  of  the  belly,  and  on  the  right  side — the  milk 
vein  and  the  artery  which  accompanies  it  being  carefully  avoided. 
The  opening  should  not  be  larger  than  would  admit  the  little  finger  ; 
and  if  it  be  made  with  the  trochar,  the  tube  may  be  left  in  the  wound 
until  the  fluid  has  quite  run  out. 

The  wound  being  thus  small,  there  is  no  need  for  the  often  fruitless 
care  to  close  it  again  with  adhesive  plaster  when  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  made  has  been  effected.  There  will  not  only  be  no 
danger,  but  manifest  advantage,  in  a  small  drain  of  this  kind  being 
left  open  ;  for  the  fluid  which  may  continue  to  be  secreted  will  drib- 
ble away  during  two  or  three  days,  and  thus  permit  the  peritoneal 
membrane  and  the  abdominal  viscera  (freed  from  the  oppression 
around  them)  to  recover  their  healthy  tone  ;  whereas,  if  the  wound 
be  immediately  closed,  the  fluid  of  dropsy  will  begin  at  once  to 
accumulate  again,  and  there  will  be  far  less  chance  of  effecting  per- 
manent benefit.  The  quantity  of  fluid  that  is  sometimes  got  rid  of 
by  means  of  this  operation  is  very  great.  It  is  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon for  twenty  gallons  to  escape,  and  there  are  records  of  thirty-two 
gallons  having  been  drawn  at  once.  There  is  little  chance  of  perma- 
nent cure  in  cases  like  these,  for  there  must  have  been  great  disease 
and  disorganization  in  order  to  produce  effusion  to  this  extent,  and 
that  disease  must  have  been  of  long  standing,  and  therefore  not  easy 
to  be  removed.  In  addition  to  this,  all  the  viscera  of  the  abdomen 
must  have  been  debilitated,  and  have  lost  their  natural  tone  and 
function  by  the  continued  pressure  and  maceration.  Still  a  cure  is 
worth  attempting,  for  the  practitioner  has  done  little  by  the  mere 
temporary  relief  which  the  operation  has  afforded. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  refilling  of  the  belly,  two  objects  must  be 
accomplished,  namely,  the  determination  of  this  fluid  to  some  other 
part  where  it  shall  be  regularly  discharged,  and  the  restoration  of  the 
general  health  of  the  animal,  and,  with  this,  the  proper  balance 
between  the  exhalent  and  absorbent  vessels.  It  is  therefore  usual  to 
give  a  dose  of  physic  immediately  after  the  operation,  that  the  fluid 
which  might  otherwise  begin  again  to  fill  in  the  belly  may  be  carried 
off  by  the  discharge  thus  established  ;  the  physic  is  repeated  as  fre- 
quently as  the  strength  of  the  animal  will  permit.  This  is  a  way  of 
proceeding,  however,  not  very  favorable  to  the  re-establishment  of 
uealth  and  strength,  and  therefore  much  greater  reliance  is  placed 
ill  a  course  of  di  iretic  medicine,  with   which  tonics  can   be  com- 


HERNIA,  OR  RUPTURE  361 

bined  ;  purgative  medicine  being  still  occasionally  given.  Half  an 
ounce  of  nitre,  with  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  each  of  tartrate  of  iron, 
commom  liquid  turpentine,  gentian,  and  ginger,  may  be  given  daily 
with  great  advantage.  Bran  and  malt  mashes  will  be  useful  at  first, 
and  when  the  beast  goes  again  to  grass,  care  should  be  taken  that 
the  pasture  is  good,  but  not  too  luxuriant  or  rank.  In  general,  some 
weakness  and  disinclination  to  food  will  remain  two  or  three  days 
after  the  operation,  attended  at  first  by  considerable  heaving,  and 
apparent  distress,  for  it  is  a  great  change  from  the  tumid  and  over- 
loaded belly  to  the  perfectly  free  and  natural  state  of  its  contents, 
and  which  do  not  at  once  accommodate  themselves  to  that  change. 

The  belly  so  frequently  fills  again  after  the  lapse  of  two  or  three 
weeks,  that  it  will  be  prudent  to  part  with  a  cow  that  has  been  drop- 
sical as  soon  as  she  can  be  got  into  tolerable  condition.  The  exhibi- 
tion of  diuretic  and  tonic  medicines  will,  perhaps,  stave  ojff  the  return 
of  the  disease  until  this  can  be  accomplished  ;  but  the  organs  of 
digestion  have  been  so  debilitated,  and  these  exhalent  and  absorbent 
vessels  have  been  so  habituated  to  an  unnatural  action,  that  a  perfect 
and  permanent  restoration  to  health  can  seldom  be  expected.  A 
second  operation  may  be  attempted  if  the  belly  has  filled  again,  but 
the  chances  of  success  are  then  most  materially  diminished. 

There  is  scarcely  a  book  on  cattle  medicine  in  which,  if  this  disease 
be  mentioned  at  all,  there  is  not  strict  caution  that  the  beast  should 
not  have  too  much  water.  This  is  altogether  erroneous.  The  object 
to  be  accomplished  is  to  restore  the  animal  as  nearly  as  possible  to  a 
state  of  health  ;  and  this  can  never  be  effected  by  curtailing  the 
proportion  of  fluid  that  is  necessary  for  the  maceration  and  digestion 
of  the  food,  and  the  supply  of  all  the  secretions.  A  state  of  unna- 
tural thirst  and  fever  would,  on  the  contrary,  be  induced,  which 
would  weaken  the  animal,  and  dispose  it  for  a  recurrence  of  the 
disease. 

HomoBopathic  treatment. — The  remedies  employed  in  this  affection, 
and  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  here  enumerated,  are  dulcamara, 
digitalis,  hellehorus  niger,  arsenicum,  and  china  ;  to  each  some  days 
should  be  allowed,  in  order  to  expend  their  action.  It  is  on  the 
china  principally  that  reliance  should  be  placed.  In  one  case,  where 
all  means  failed,  benefit  was  derived  from  lycopodium,  whose  action 
may  be  said  to  be  very  powerful  in  internal  dropsies.  Ascites 
comphcated  with  anasarca  has  been  cured  solely  by  alternate  doses 
of  china  and  arsenicum,  a  mode  of  proceeding  which  experience  war- 
rants recommending. 

HERNIA,  OR    RUPTURE. 

A  portion  of  the  intestine  occasionally  protrudes  through  the  walls 
of  the  abdomen.     This  may  be  the  consequence  of  external  violence, 
16 


CATTLE. 


the  beast  having  been  gored  b}^  one  of  its  companions.  The  external 
wound  may  probably  be  small,  or,  in  some  cases,  the  skin  may  not  be 
broken  at  all,  but  the  internal  wall  of  the  belly  is  injured,  and  par- 
tially or  entirely  ruptured.  In  consequence  of  this,  a  tumor  soon 
appears,  varying  in  size  according  to  the  extent  of  the  injury.  It  is 
a  portion  of  the  intestine  that  is  protruding.  The  enlargement  is 
tender  when  pressed  upon,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  interfere  with  the 
health  of  the  animal,  and  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  elapse  before  any 
serious  consequence  is  observed ;  at  length  the  tumor  begins  to 
increase  very  rapidly  ;  the  animal  expresses  considerable  pain  on 
beinor  moved,  and  is  only  comparatively  easy  when  lying  down,  and 
even  then  it  moans  occasionally  ;  the  breathing  is  quickened  ;  the 
countenance  is  anxious  ;  the  pulse  is  quick  and  small ;  rumination  has 
stopped,  and  the  usual  evacuation  of  faeces  is  diminished.  It  is 
plainly  a  protrusion  of  the  bov>^els,  and  now  attended  with  some 
degree  of  strangulation,  or  pressure  of  the  edges  of  the  wound  upon 
them,  and  thus  obstructing  the  passage  of  their  contents.  The  tumor 
is  generally  soft  and  yielding,  and,  on  pressure,  a  gurgling  noise  is 
heard  within  it.  On  inspection  of  the  cut,  p.  330,  and  observation 
of  the  loose  manner  in  which  the  small  intestines  are  attached  to  the 
edge  of  the  mesentery,  it  will  be  easy  to  account  for  the  occasional 
enormous  size  of  the  tumor,  and  the  quantity  of  intestine  which  is 
protruded. 

It  is  rarely  possible,  by  any  manipulation  (taxis),  to  return  the 
bowel ;  and  if  it  could  be  returned,  it  would  immediately  escape 
again.  It  is  therefore  loss  of  time  to  endeavor  thus  to  treat  the  case. 
It  would  be  worse  than  loss  of  iime,  for  considerable  inflammation 
may  be  set  up  by  a  long-continued  and  rough  handling  of  the  part. 

The  beast  must  be  thrown  and  held  on  his  back,  with  the  hind 
parts  somewhat  elevated.  An  incision  must  be  made  through  the 
skin,  corresponding  with  the  length  of  the  tumor,  especial  care  being 
taken  that  the  protruded  intestine,  which  will  be  found  immediately 
underneath,  be  not  wounded.  Then,  if  there  be  any  strangulation  of 
the  intestine,  which  in  most  cases  there  will  be,  the  first  and  second 
fingers  of  the  left  hand  must  be  introluced  between  the  bowel  and 
the  edge  of  the  wound  ;  a  crooked  knife  (a  bistoury)  must  next  be 
passed  cautiously  between  the  fingers,  and  the  wound  enlarged  suffi- 
ciently to  enable  the  protruded  mass  to  be  returned.  The  bowel 
having  been  thus  replaced  in  its  natural  cavity,  the  edges  of  the 
wound  through  the  walls  of  the  belly  must  be  brought  together  and 
retained  with  stitches ;  the  skin,  if  necessary,  being  dissected  back  a 
little,  in  order  to  get  at  the  whole  of  the  wound.  Stitches  must  then 
be  passed  through  the  skin,  the  divided  edges  of  which  should  be 
brought  together  in  the  same  manner.  In  a  few  cases  it  will  be 
practicable,  and  always  advisable  when  practicable,  to  include  the 
skin  and  the  muscular  wall  of  the  belly  in  the  same  stitch.     A  pk»d- 


HERNIA,  OR  R  ..'PTURE.  363 


get  of  fine  tow  mus*  be  placed  over  the  incision,  and  upon  that  an- 
other pledget,  smeared  with  simple  ointment.  This  must  be  confined 
by  a  bandage  fire  or  six  inches  wider  than  the  wound,  and  which 
must  be  passed  twice  or  thrice  found  the  body,  firmly  sewed,  and,  if 
possible,  not  removed  for  ten  days.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
the  edges  will  be  found  to  have  adhered  along  the  greater  part  of  the 
incision,  the  stitches  may  be  withdrawn,  and  what  remains  unhealed 
may  be  treated  as  a  common  wound.  Should  much  oedematous 
swelling  appear  on  either  side  of  the  bandage,  the  parts  should  be 
well  fomented  with  warm  water,  or,  if  requisite,  lightly  scarified. 
The  beast  should  be  kept  on  rather  short  allowance,  the  food  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  mashes,  with  a  little  hay  or  green  meat ;  and  a  dose  or 
two  of  physic  should  be  given  during  the  progress  of  the  cure. 

If  the  horn  should  have  broken  the  skin,  as  well  as  lacerated  the 
muscular  part  beneath,  and  the  intestine  protrudes,  it  must  be 
cleared  from  any  dirt  or  extraneous  matter  about  it,  then  carefully 
returned,  and  the  wound  closed  and  the  bandage  applied  as  already 
directed. 

The  author  has  not  only  seen  a  considerable  portion  of  bowel  pro- 
truding, but  the  bowel  itself  torn.  Even  then  he  has  not  despaired, 
for  the  healing  power  in  these  animals  is  such  as  the  human  surgeon 
would  scarcely  deem  possible.  The  rent  of  the  intestine  may  be 
closed  by  a  stitch  or  two,  with  well-founded  hope  of  the  edges 
uniting,  and  the  intestinal  cana  becoming  perfect  and  whole. 

Calves  are  occasionally  dropped  with  ruptures.  They  principally 
occur  along  the  middle  line  of  the  belly,  and  not  far  from  the  navel. 
It  is  usually  a  protrusion  of  a  portion  of  the  omentum  or  caul ;  but 
in  a  few  instances  one  or  two  small  convolutions  of  the  intestines 
have  been  involved.  The  principal  danger  is,  that  the  rumen,  when 
unnaturally  distended  by  food  or  gas,  may  press  upon  and  injure  the 
portion  of  caul  or  intestine  immediately  within  the  abdomen,  and 
turning  over  the  edge  of  the  opening.  Any  serious  operation  with  a 
view  to  the  reduction  of  the  rupture  would  scarcely  be  advisable, 
but  it  would  be  prudent  to  fatten  and  dispose  of  the  animal  as  soon 
as  convenient. 

But  calves  are  sometimes  born  with  rupture  in  the  groin.  The 
opening  through  which  the  testicle  afterward  descends  into  the  bag 
is  lax,  and  yields  to  slight  pressure,  and  in  the  motions  of  the  foetus 
in  the  womb,  a  small  convolution  of  the  intestine  slips  down.  This 
sometimes  continues  of  nearly  its  original  size  for  several  months  ;  in 
some  cases  it  is  gradually  retracted,  and  disappears ;  in  others,  it 
increases  in  volume  with  greater  or  less  rapidity.  A  remedy  is  often 
to  be  found  for  this  as  soon  as  the  testicles  descend  into  the  bag ; 
and  at  which  time,  if  the  hernia  will  ever  be  serious,  it  begins  to 
increase,  or  to  be  strangulated — the  beast  should  be  castrated. 

After  the  aninaal  is  thrown  and  properly  confined,  the  protruded 


864  CATTLE. 


intestine  should  be  gently  and  carefully  pushed  up  through  the  ring 
or  opening,  the  testicles  being  somewhat  drawn  out,  in  order  to  ren- 
der this  more  practicable.  Continued  and  gentle  pressure  applied 
on  the  sides  of  the  tumor  will  more  facilitate  this  than  the  applica- 
tion of  the  greatest  force.  The  intestine  having  been  returned,  the 
finger  of  an  assistant  is  placed  at  the  opening,  and  the  operator  pro- 
ceeds to  cut  into  the  scrotum  as  quickly  as  he  can,  and  to  denude 
the  testicle,  to  apply  the  ordinary  clamps,  and  to  divide  the  cord 
below  the  clamps.  The  clamps  will  form  a  temporary  and  effect- 
ual support;  and  by  the  following  day,  when  it  is  usual  to  remove 
the  clamps,  a  degree  of  inflammation  and  engorgement  of  the  parts 
will  have  been  set  up,  that  will  either  obliterate  the  ring,  or  so  far 
contract  it,  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  the  gut  afterwards  to  de- 
scend. 

There  is  one  circumstance  to  which  the  practitioner  should  most 
carefully  attend.  The  protruded  intestine  always  carries  with  it  a 
portion  of  peritoneum — it  is  contained  in  a  bag  formed  by  the  in- 
vesting membrane  of  the  bowels.  The  whole  of  this  bag  may  not 
have  been  returned  when  the  intestine  is  pushed  up :  the  operator 
must  ascertain  this,  and  by  no  means  open  any  part  of  the  peritoneal 
covering  that  may  remain. 

Castration  will  usually  remove  this  hernia  and  all  its  unpleasant  or 
dangerous  consequences,  and  the  beast  will  be  as  valuable  for  grazing 
and  for  working  as  if  nothing  had  occurred. 

In  a  few  cases,  however,  the  hernia  will  be  strangulated.  So 
great  a  portion  of  intestine,  or  of  faecal  matter  in  that  intestine,  will 
have  descended,  that  the  operator  cannot  return  it  through  the  ab- 
dominal ring.  Even  the  somewhat  desperate  expedient  of  intro- 
ducing the  hand  into  the  rectum,  and  endeavoring  to  find  out  the 
portion  of  intestine  connected  with  that  which  has  descended,  and 
forcibly  retract  it,  may  fail:  a  different  kind  of  operation  must  then 
be  attempted,  and  which  a  skillful  veterinarian  alone  can  perform. 

A  species  of  rupture,  very  difficult  to  be  treated,  has  occurred  to 
cows  in  an  advanced  period  of  pregnancy.  An  excessive  accumula- 
tion of  fluid  has  taken  place  in  the  womb,  or  calf-bed,  and  the  ten- 
dinous expansion  of  the  muscles  which  support  the  lower  part  of  the 
belly  has  given  way.  The  farmer  says,  that  "  the  rim  of  the  cow's 
belly  is  ruptured."  A  portion  of  the  womb  escapes  through  the 
opening,  and  descends  into  the  groin,  or  seems  to  occupy  the  udder, 
and  even  the  head  of  a  calf  has  been  forced  down  into  the  groin. 

There  is  one  more  species  of  rupture  to  which  cattle  are  subject, 
and  the  existence  of  which  cannot  always  be  ascertained  during  life, 
namely,  that  of  the  diaphragm,  or  midriff.  In  distension  of  the 
rumen  there  is  always  great  pressure  against  the  midriff.  This  is 
increased  when  severe  colicky  pains  come  on,  and  especially  when 
improper  means  have  been  resorted  to,  such  as  strong  stimulating 


HERJNIA,  OR  RUPTURE.  SGi 

drinks,  or  rude  exercise,  or  when  the  animal,  in  a  state  of  half- uncon- 
sciousness, has  violently  beaten  himself  about.  The  midrifif  has  then 
given  way,  and  a  portion  of  the  intestine,  or  of  one  of  the  stomachs, 
or  of  the  omentum  or  caul,  or  of  the  liver,  has  been  forced  into  the 
cavity  of  the  chest.  This  may  be  suspected  when,  after  the  usual 
symptoms  of  hoove  or  colic,  great  difficulty  of  breathing  suddenly 
comes  on,  and  is  evidently  attended  by  excessive  pain — when  the 
animal  is  every  moment  looking  at  her  side,  and  especially  at  the 
left  side — when  she  shrinks,  and  bows  hei'self  up  as  if  the  muscles 
of  the  belly  were  violently  cramped — and  when  she  stiflfens  all  over, 
and  then  suddely  falls  and  dies  in  convulsions. 

Exan  ination  after  death  has  sometimes  displayed  chronic  rupture 
of  this  kind.  The  attack  has  been  as  sudden,  but  the  colicky  pains 
have  not  been  so  violent ;  they  have  intermitted — disappeared  ;  but 
an  habitual  difficulty  of  breathing  has  been  left  behind — disinclina- 
tion to  rapid  motion — fright  when  suddenly  moved — anxiety  of 
countenance — perhaps  impairment  of  condition — and  certainly  im- 
possibihty  of  acquiring  any  considerable  degree  of  condition.  This 
has  continued  during  several  months,  until  the  animal  has  been  de- 
stroyed, or  has  died  from  some  cause  unconnected  with  these  symp- 
toms ;  and  then  an  old  rupture  of  the  diaphragm  has  been  discov- 
ered, the  edges  of  which  had  been  completely  healed,  and  the  second 
stomach,  or  the  liver,  had  been  firmly  placed  against  the  opening, 
and  had  occupied  it,  and  in  a  slight  degree  projected  into  the  thorax. 
No  medical  treatment  or  operation  could  be  of  the  slightest  service 
in  this  case. 

HamcBopathic  treatment. — In  connection  with  the  surgical  means, 
arnica  is  to  be  administered  very  often,  externally  and  internally. 
The  animal  must  be  kept  quiet,  and  all  flatulent  food  carefully 
avoided.  If  inflammation  take  place,  aconitum  should  be  given 
repeatedly.     Sulphuric  acid,  diluted,  m-iy  be  used  externally. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    URINARY    ORGANS    AND    THEIR    DISEASES. 

THE    KIDNEYS. 

The  blood  contains  much  watery  fluid,  which,  after  it  has  ans.?ered. 
certain  purposes  connected  with  digestion,  or  the  various  secretions, 
is  separated  and  carried  out  of  the  frame.  The  kidneys  are  the 
main  instruments  by  which  this  is  effected  ;  and  they  are  often  called 
into  increased  action  in  order  to  compensate  for  the  deficiencies  of 
other  parts.  When  the  usual  discharge  of  perspiration  from  the 
skin  is  suspended,  the  kidney  takes  on  increased  activity ;  and  when 
fluids  are  accumulating  in  the  frame  generally,  or  in  particular  parts, 
they  escape  by  means  of  these  organs.  Also  other  substances,  the 
accumulation  or  the  continuance  of  which  in  the  frame  would  be 
injurious,  are  got  rid  of  by  means  of  the  kidneys.  The  essential 
principle  of  the  urine  (the  urea)  is  one  that  would  be  noxious,  or 
perhaps  destructive. 

The  kidneys  are  two  glandular  substances,  attached  on  either 
side  to  the  spine  beneath  the  muscles  of  the  loins.  They  are  not, 
however,  exactly  opposite  to  each  other,  but  the  left  kidney  is  pushed 
somewhat  backward  by  the  great  development  of  the  rumen.  A 
very  lai-ge  artery  runs  to  each.  The  quantity  of  blood  which  that 
vessel  carries  shows  the  importance  of  the  kidneys,  and  well  accounts 
for  the  inflammation  and  other  diseases  to  which  they  are  occasion- 
ally subject.  These  arteries  divide  into  innumerable  little  branches, 
coiled  upon  and  communicating  with  each  other  in  a  singular  manner  ; 
and  the  blood,  traversing  all  these  convolutions,  has  its  watery  and 
noxious  ingredients  separated  in  the  form  of  urine,  which  is  carried 
on  to  the  bladder,  while  the  portion  that  remains  is  returned  to  the 
circulation  by  means  of  the  veins,  which  bear  a  proportionate  size  to 
that  of  the  arteries. 

As  the  process  of  digestion  is  so  perfectly  performed  in  cattle, 
and  all  the  nutritive,  and  some,  perhaps,  of  the  noxious  matter  which 
the  food  contains,  taken  up  and  received  into  the  circulation,  the 
kidneys  have  much  to  do  in  order  to  complete  this  process  of  separa- 
tion ;  they  are  therefore  large  ;  are  complicated  in  their  appearance ; 
they  present  an  assemblage  of  diff'erent  lobes  or  lobules,  separated 
by  deep  scissures ;  there  are  ample  provisions  made  for  their  secu- 


RED- WATER.  367 


rity — they  are  deeply  embedded  in  a  covering  of  fat,  and  there  is 
another  accumulation  of  fat  surrounding"  and  defending  the  differ- 
ent vessels  that  are  received  or  given  oflf.  The  bulk  of  the 
rumen,  and  the  danger  of  occasional  pressure  from  it,  may^in  some 
degree  account  for  these  provisions  of  safety  ;  but  a  more  satisfac- 
tory reason  is  to  be  found  in  the  greater  extent  and  importance  of 
the  function  which  these  organs  in  cattle  have  to  discharge. 

RED-WATER. 

The  disease  termed  red-water,  from  the  color  of  the  urine,  is  one 
of  the  most  frequent  and  untractable  maladies  of  cattle.  It  may  be 
conveniently  divided  into  acute  and  chronic ;  in  fact,  two  diseases 
essentially  dififerent  in  their  symptoms,  demanding  different  treat- 
ment, and  referable  to  different  organs,  have  been  confounded  under 
this  name. 

A  cow,  in  somewhat  to^  high  condition,  and  in  whom  the  prudent 
precautions  of  bleeding  or  physicking  had  been  omitted,  frequently, 
a  week  or  two  before  the  time  of  calving,  suddenly  exhibits  symp- 
toms of  fever  ;  she  heaves  at  the  flank ;  she  ceases  to  ruminate,  and 
evidently  suffers  much  pain ;  her  back  is  bowed ;  she  is  straining  in 
order  to  evacuate  her  urine,  and  that  is  small  in  quantity,  expelled 
with  force,  highly  tinged  with  blood. 

At  other  times,  a  few  days  after  calving,  when  she  had  not 
cleansed  well,  or  was  in  too  good  condition,  and  had  not  had  that 
dose  of  purgative  medicine  which  should  always  follow  parturition, 
she  suddenly  manifests  the  same  symptoms  of  illness,  speedily  suc- 
ceeded by  a  similar  discharge  of  bloody  urine. 

The  nature  and  cause  of  the  disease  are  here  evident  enough. 
During  the  period  of  pregnancy  there  had  been  considerable  deter- 
mination of  blood  to  the  womb.  A  degree  of  susceptibility,  a  ten- 
dency to  inflammatory  action,  had  been  set  up  ;  and  this  had  been 
increased  as  the  period  of  parturition  had  approached,  and  was  ag- 
gravated by  the  state  and  general  fulness  of  blood  to  which  she  had 
incautiously  been  raised.  The  neighboring  organs  necessarily  par- 
ticipated in  this,  and  the  kidneys,  to  which  so  much  blood  is  sent  for 
the  proper  discharge  ^f  their  function,  either  quickly  shaied  in  the 
inflammation  of  the  womb,  or  first  took  on  inflammation,  and  suffered 
most  by  means  of  it. 

An  overdriven  bullock  is  seized  with  acute  inflammation  of  the 
kidneys ;  another  that  has  been  shifted  from  poor  to  luxuriant  pas- 
ture is  soon  observed  to  have  red-water.  There  are  some  seasons 
when  it  is  in  a  manner  epidemic,  when  a  great  proportion  of  the 
beasts  in  a  certain  district  are  attacked  b-y  it,  and  many  of  them  die. 
Atmospheric  influence  has  not  been  taken  sufficiently  into  the  ac- 
count in  the  consideration  of  this  and  almost  every  other  disease.  It 
\s  seldom  that  one  dairy  is  attacked  by  red-water,  without  many  or 


368  CATTLE. 

most  of  the  neighboring  ones  being  annoyed  by  it,  and  especially  if 
the  soil  and  the  productions  of  the  soil  are  similar ;  and  even  cattle 
in  the  straw-vard  have  not  then  quite  escaped.  It  is  more  prevalent 
in  the  spring  and  autumn  than  in  the  winter,  and  more  in  the  winter 
than  in  the  summer  :  it  is  particularly  pi  n-aleiit  when,  in  either  the 
sprinor  or  the  fall  of  the  year,  warm  days  succeed  to  cold  nights  and 
a  heavy  dew.  It  is  peculiar  to  certain  pastures  :  the  farmer  scarcely 
dares  to  turn  even  the  cattle  of  the  country  upon  some  of  them ;  and 
a  beast  brought  from  a  distant  farm  or  market  is  sure  to  be  attacked. 
It  oftenest  occurs  in  woody  districts,  and  particularly  in  low  marshy 
lands ;  but  in  them  there  are  exceptions,  which,  in  the  present  state 
of  the  botanical  knowledge  of  the  farmer  and  the  veterinarian,  cannot 
be  satisfactorily  accounted  for.  A  wall  or  a  hedge  may  divide  a 
perfectly  safe  pasture  from  another  which  gives  the  red-water  to 
every  beast  that  is  turned  upon  it.  One  farmer  scarcely  knows  what 
the  disease  is  except  by  name,  while  on  the  grounds  of  his  neighbor 
it  destroys  many  a  beast  every  year.  The  same  pasture  is  safe  at 
one  time  of  the  year  and  dangerous  and  destructive  at  another.  The 
fields  surrounded  by  copses  may  be  stocked  with  impunity,  or  advan- 
tage, in  summer  or  winter  ;  but  the  farmer  must  beware  of  them 
when  the  buds  are  shooting  or  the  leaves  are  falling. 

The  result  of  general  experience  is,  that  it  has  more  to  do  with 
the  nature  of  the  food  than  with  any  other  cause ;  and  the  produc- 
tion or  the  unusual  growth  of  the  astringent  and  acrimonious  plants 
may  have  considerable  influence  here.  The  malady  may  w^ith  more 
probability  be  traced  to  the  quality  of  the  general  produce  of  the  soil, 
than  to  the  prevalence  of  certain  plants  of  known  acrimonious  or 
poisonous  properties. 

This  noxious  quality  may  be  communicated  by  excess  or  depriva- 
tion of  moisture.  There  is  no  farmer  who  is  not  aware  of  the  injuri- 
ous eflfect  of  the  coarse  rank  herbage  of  low,  and  mai*shy,  and  woody 
countries,  and  he  regards  such  districts  as  the  chosen  residence  of 
red-water.  • 

The  fanner  must  carefully  observe  the  effect  of  the  different  parts 
of  his  farm  in  the  production  of  this  disease  ;  and  observation  and 
thought  may  suggest  to  him  that  alteration  of  draining  or  manuring, 
or  other  management,  which  may  to  a  considerable  degree  remedy 
the  evil. 

Acute  Bed-water  is  ushered  in  by  a  discharge  of  bloody  urine, 
and  is  generally  preceded  by  dysentery,  suddenly  changing  to  obstinate 
costiveness  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  costiveness  is  established  the  red-water 
appears.  There  is  laborious  breathing,  coldness  of  the  extremities, 
ears  and  horns,  heat  of  the  mouth,  tenderness  of  the  loins,  and  every 
indication  of  fever :  it  often  runs  its  couise  with  fearful  rapidity,  and 
the  animal  is  sometimes  destroyed  in  a  very  few  days. 

When  th?  carcass  is  examined,  there  is  generally  found  some  in- 


RED-WATER. 


flammation  of  the  kidney,  enlargement  of  it,  turgescence  of  its  vessels, 
yet  very  rarely  any  considerable  disorganization,  and  certainly  not 
so  much  affection  of  it  as  would  be  expected  ;  but  in  cows  the  uterus 
exhibits  much  greater  inflammation  ;  there  is  often  ulceration,  the 
formation  of  fetid  pus,  and  occasionally  gangrene  ;  there  is  also 
peritoneal  inflammation,  extensive,  intense,  with  adhesions  and  effu- 
sions, while  the  lining  membrane  of  the  bowels  rarely  escapes  in- 
flammation and  ulceration. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  about  the  treatment  of  such  a  disease. 
There  has  either  been  an  undue  quantity  of  blood  determined  to  the 
kidneys,  with  much  local  inflammation,  and  before  the  pressure  of 
which  the  vessels  of  that  organ  have  given  way,  or  so  much  blood 
has  been  always  traversing  the  kidney,  that  there  is  a  facility  in  set- 
ting up  imflammation  there.  Bleeding  will  be  the  first  step  indica- 
ted. The  first  bleeding  should  be  a  copious  one ;  but  the  repetition 
of  it  will  depend  upon  circumstances.  The  haemorrhage,  or  bleed- 
ing, is  clearly  active.  It  is  produced  by  some  irritation  of  the  part : 
its  color  shows  that  it  procee  Is  from  the  minute  arterial  or  capillary 
vessels.  When  bloody  urine  f^ows  from  the  kidney,  that  organ  is 
giving  way  under  an  increased  discharge  of  its  natural  function,  and 
that  function  is  increased  in  order  to  compensate  for  the  suspended 
one  of  another  part,  namely,  the  natural  action  of  the  bowels.  Three 
objects  will  be  accomplished  by  venesection  :  the  first,  a  diminution 
of  the  general  quantity  of  blood  ;  the  second — a  consequence  of  the 
first — the  removal  of  congestion  in  the  part ;  and  the  third  is  the 
giving  a  different  direction  to  the  current  of  blood. 

Purgatives  should  follow,  with  a  view  more  quickly  and  effectually 
to  accomplish  all  these  objects ;  and  from  the  recollection  of  a  cir- 
cumstance most  important  to  the  practitioner,  that  red-water  closely 
followed  the  establishment  of  constipation.  A  pound  of  Epsom  salts 
should  be  immediately  exhibited,  and  half-pound  doses  every  eight 
hours  afterwards,  until  the  bowels  are  thoroughly  acted  upon. 

There  is  too  frequently  great  difficulty  in  purging  cattle  when 
laboring  under  red-water :  dose  after  dose  may  be  administered  for 
three  or  four  days,  and  yet  the  bowels  will  remain  obstinately  con- 
stipated. Either  there  is  a  strange  indisposition  in  them  to  be  acted 
npon,  or,  the  rumen  sympathizing  with  the  derangrement  of  other 
organs,  the  muscular  pillars  of  its  roof  yield  to  the  weight  of  the  fluid, 
whether  hastily  or  cautiously  administered,  and  the  medicine  enters 
that  stomach,  and  is  retained  there  until  the  beast  is  lost.  The 
physic  must  be  repeated  again  and  again ;  it  must  gently  trickle 
down  the  gullet,  so  that  it  shall  fall  on  the  roof  of  the  paunch  with 
as  little  force  as  possible ;  and  after  the  second  day,  in  spite  of  the 
fever,  unusual  doses  of  aromatics  must  mingle  with  it,  that  the  rumen, 
or  the  intestines,  or  both,  may  be  stimulated  to  action.  In  the  ma- 
jority of  cases,  and  especiallv  before  the  st.  3ngth  of  the  animal  be- 
16*  ' 


370  CATTLE. 


comes  exhausted,  the  commencement  of  purging  will  he  the  signal  of 
recovery. 

It,  nevertheless,  too  often  happens,  that  the  constipated  state  of 
the  bowels  cannot  be  overcome,  but  the  animal  becomes  rapidly- 
weaker,  while  the  blood  assumes  a  darker,  and  sometimes  a  purple 
or  even  a  black  color.  The  danger  is  now  increased,  and  probably 
death  is  not  far  distant.  In  many  cases,  however,  the  beast  not  be- 
ing too  much  exhausted,  the  dark  and  coffee- colored  urine  is  a  favor- 
able symptom,  especially  if  it  be  discharged  in  evidently  larger  quan- 
tities, and  not  so  frequently. 

The  appearance  of  the  darker  fluid,  and  even  the  continuance  of 
the  florid  red  urine,  when  the  fever  has  subsided  to  a  considerable 
degree,  will  indicate  a  different  mode  of  treatment.  The  haemorrhage 
will  have  become  passive.  The  blood  will  flow  because  the  vessels 
have  lost  their  power  of  contracting  on  their  contents.  It  has  then 
been  usual  to  give  astringents ;  but  this  is  dangerous  practice,  for 
the  constipation,  which  is  the  worst  symptom  of  the  disease,  and  which 
immediately  preceded  the  red- water,  and  was,  probably,  the  exciting 
cause  of  it,  may  be  confirmed  or  recalled.  Stimulants,  and  those 
which  act  upon  the  kidney,  will  be  most  likely  to  have  beneficial 
effect.  The  common  turpentine,  the  balsam  of  copaiba,  or  even 
spirits  of  turpentine,  especially  if  it  be  guarded  by  the  addition  of  a 
few  drachms  of  laudanum,  may  be  given  Avith  advantage.  The 
weakened  vessels  of  the  kidney  may  occasionally  be  roused  to  close 
on  their  contents,  and  the  haemorrhage  may  be  arrested. 

Chronic  red-water  is  more  prevalent  than  that  which  is  acute,  and, 
in  its  first  stage,  is  far  more  a  disease  of  the  digestive  organs,  and 
especially  of  the  liver,  than  of  the  kidney.  The  urine  is  observed  to 
be  of  a  brown  color,  or  brown  tinged  with  yelloiv — the  beast  feeds 
nearly  as  well  as  before,  but  ruminates  rather  more  lazily.  In  a  few 
days  a  natural  diarrhoea  comes  on,  and  the  animal  is  well  at  once  ; 
or  a  purgative  drink  is  administered,  and  a  cure  is  presently  effected. 
This  occurs  frequently  in  cows  of  w^eak  constitution,  and  in  calves. 

At  other  times  there  is  manifest  indisposition  ;  the  animal  is  dull, 
heavy,  languid — the  ears  droop — the  back  is  bowed — she  separates 
from  the  herd — she  refuses  her  food — she  ceases  to  ruminate. 
Presently  she  gets  better — she  rejoins  her  companions  ;  but  this  is 
only  for  a  little  while.  The  urine,  which  at  jirst  was  hroivn,  with  a 
tinge  of  yelloiv,  has  noiv  red  mingling  with  the  broum,  or  it  is  of  the 
color  of  2)orter.  It  is  increased  in  quantity — it  is  discharged  some- 
times with  ease,  at  other  times  with  considerable  straining — in  little 
jets,  and  with  additional  bowing  of  the  back.  The  milk  diminishes 
— it  acquires  a  slight  tinge  of  yellow  or  brown — the  taste  becomes 
unpleasant — it  spoils  all  that  it  is  mingled  with.  The  pulse  is  ac- 
celerated— it  reaches  to  60  or  70.  If  blood  be  drawn,  the  serum 
which  separates  from  it  is  browr.     The  skin  is  yellow,  but  of  a 


RED-WATER.  371 


darker  yellow  than  in  jaundice — it  has  a  tinge  of  brown.  The  con- 
junctiva is  also  yellow,  inclining  to  brown.  The  urine  becomes  of  a 
darker  hue — it  is  almost  black.  The  animal  usually  shrinks  when 
the  loins  are  pressed  upon ;  occasiorally  there  is  much  tenderness, 
but  oftener  the  beast  scarcely  shrinks  more  than  he  is  accustomed  to 
do  when  laboring  under  almost  every  disease.  The  belly  is  not  so 
much  tucked  up  as  drawn  together  at  the  sides.  There  is  consider- 
able loss  of  condition — the  legs  and  ears  get  coM — the  animal  is 
less  inclined  to  move  ;  there  is  evident  and  gen:;ral  debility.  In 
every  stage  there  is  costiveness,  and  that  exceedingly  difficult  to 
overcome :  but,  on  close  inquiry,  it  is  ascertained  that  there  was 
diarrhoea  at  the  heginning,  and  which  was  violent  and  fetid,  and  which 
suddenly  stopped. 

Examination  after  death  shows  the  skin  and  the  cellular  mem- 
brane underneath  to  be  of  a  dark  yellow  ;  the  fat  about  the  belly  is 
of  the  same  hue,  or  perhaps  of  a  lighter  tinge.  The  6x"st  and 
second  stomachs  are  full :  there  is  no  fermentation  and  little  gas,  or 
sour  smell.  The  many  plus  is  perfectly  dry — baking  could  hardly 
add  tp  the  hardness,  'ihe  leaves  of  the  manyplus  cling  to  the  food 
contained  between  them  :  the  papillae  leave  "their  evident  indenta- 
tions on  the  hardened  mass,  and  that  mass  cannot  be  detached 
without  considerable  portions  of  the  cuticle  clinging  to  it.  The 
fourth  stomach  is  empty,  and  the  lining  membrane  covered  with 
brown  mucus,  exhibiting  patches  of  inflammation  underneath.  The 
intestines  are  rarely  inflamed.  There  is  no  fluid  in  the  belly,  nor  in- 
flammation of  its  lining  membrane.  The  kidney  is  of  a  yellow- 
brown  color,  and  sometimes  a  little  enlarged,  but  there  is  rarely  in- 
Jiammation  or  disease  about  it.  Drops  of  daik  and  brown-colored 
urine  may  be  pressed  from  it.  The  lungs  display  no  mark  of  dan- 
gerous disease,  but  they  too  have  a  yellow  hue.  The  fluid  in  the 
bag  of  the  heart  is  yellow.  The  chyle,  which  is  traversing  the 
lacteal  vessels,  is  yellow  too,  and  there  is  the  same  discoloration  of 
the  fluids  everywhere. 

The  liver  is  evidently  of  a  darker  color  ;  it  is  enlarged,  generally 
inflamed,  sometimes  rotten,  and  filled  with  black  blood.  The  gall-blad- 
der is  full,  almost  to  distension.  The  bile  is  thick  and  black :  it 
looks  more  like  lampblack  mixed  with  oil,  than  like  healthy  bile. 

All  these  appearances  lead  to  the  necessary  conclusion  that  this 
is  far  more  a  disease  of  the  digestive  organs  than  of  the  kidney  ;  in 
fact,  that  it  is  not  primarily  an  aff'ection  of  the  kidney.  It  is  dis- 
ease of  the  liver,  either  consisting  in  inflammation  of  that  organ, 
accompanied  by  increased  secretion  of  bile,  or  a  change  in  the  qual- 
ity of  the  bile.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  whole  circulatory  fluid 
becomes  tinged  with  the  :olor  of  tta  bile,  and  which  is  shoAvn  in  the 
hue  of  the  skin  generally    and  in  .he  color  of  the  blood,  and  par- 


372  CATTLE. 


ticularly  in  the  change  that  takes  place  in  that  blood  when  drawn 
from  the  vein. 

The  fluid  discharged  from  the  kidneys  participates  in  the  general 
change  ;  it  becomes  yellow — yellow-brown — brown.  The  change 
is  most  evident  here,  because  so  great  a  quantity  of  blood,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  organ,  circulates  through  the  kidneys  ;  and 
more  particularly  it  is  evident  here,  because  it  is  the  office  or  duty 
of  the  kidneys  to  separate  from  the  blood,  and  to  expel  from  the 
circulation,  that  which  is  foreign  to  the  blood,  or  would  be  injurious 
to  the  animal. 

The  bile,  however,  possesses  an  acrid  principle  to  a  considerable 
degree.  While  it  is  an  excrementitious  substance  that  must  be  got 
rid  of,  it  stimulates  the  intestinal  canal  as  it  passes  along  in  order  to 
be  discharged ;  it  particularly  does  so  when  it  is  secreted  in  undue 
quantities,  or  when  its  quality  is  altered.  There  is  abundant  proof  of 
this  in  the  bilious  irritation  and  diarrhoea  which  cattle  so  frequently 
exhibit.  The  kidney,  at  length,  is  evidently  irritated  by  the  con- 
tinued presence  of  this  diseased  fluid :  it  becomes  inflamed,  its  mi- 
nute vessels  are  ruptured,  and  a  red  hue  begins  to  mingle  wiih  the 
brown.  There  is  found  discoloration  and  increased  size  of  the  kid- 
ney, and  pain  in  the  region  of  that  organ  ;  this,  however,  is  rarely 
carried  to  any  considerable  extent,  and  the  seat  and  principal  ravages 
of  disease  are  to  be  clearly  traced  to  a  different  part,  namely,  the  liver. 

It  is  evident,  then,  that  acute  and  chronic  red-water,  as  the  authoj 
of  this  treatise  has  termed  them,  (for  he  did  not,  in  the  present  state 
of  our  knowledge  of  cattle  medicine,  dare  to  deviate  too  far  from  the 
usual  arrangement  and  designation  of  disease,)  are  essentially  diff"er- 
ent  maladies  :  they  belong  to  different  organs — they  are  character- 
ized by  diff"erent  symptoms — they  require  diff"erent  treatment.  The 
first  is  inflammation  of  the  kidney  ;  it  is  characterized  by  the  evident 
pain  and  fever,  and  by  the  red  and  bloody  urine  which  accompanies 
it  in  an  early  stage ;  it  requires  the  most  active  treatment,  and  it 
speedily  runs  its  course.  The  second  is  inflammation  of,  or  altered 
secretion  from,  the  liver ;  not  often  accompanffed  in  its  early  stage 
by  pain  or  fever ;  characterized  by  the  dark  brown  color  of  vitiated 
bile,  and  more  slowly,  but  as  fatally,  undermining  the  strength  of 
the  constitution. 

As  to  the  first  step  in  the  treatment  of  chronic  red  water,  the 
propriety  of  bleeding  depends  on  the  condition  of  the  beast,  and  the 
degree  of  fever.  An  animal  in  high  or  in  fair  condition  can  never 
be  hurt  by  one  bleeding ;  while,  on  the  contrary,  lurking,  decep- 
tive, fatal  febrile  action  may  be  subdued.  If  there  be  the  slightest 
degree  of  actual  fever,  nothing  can  excuse  the  neglect  of  bleeding. 
The  quantity  taken,  or  the  repetition  of  the  abstraction  of  blood, 
must  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  practitioner. 


BLACK- WATER.  373 


The  animal  must  be  well  purged  if  he  is  in  a  constipated  state ; 
or  if  there  is  already  a  discharge  of  glairy  faecal  matter,  the  char- 
acter of  that  must  be  changed  by  a  purgative.  That  is  the  best 
whose  effects  are  most  speedily  and  certainly  produced,  and  there 
is  no  drug  more  to  be  depended  upon  in  both  these  respects  than 
the  Epsom  salts.  It  may  be  alternated  with  Glauber's  traits,  or 
common  salt,  or  an  aperient  of  a  different  character,  sulphur,  may 
be  added  to  it.  Much  good  effect  is  often  produced  by  this  mix- 
ture of  aperients.  As  there  is  either  so  much  real  costiveness — in- 
disposition to  be  acted  upon  by  purgative  medicine — or  so  much 
relaxation  of  (je  floor  of  the  cesopliagean  canal  that  the  medicine 
falls  into  the  rumen  instead  of  going  to  its  proper  destination,  and 
as  the  establishment  of  purgation  seems  to  have  so  uniform  and  ben- 
eficial an  effect  in  relieving  the  disease,  the  medicine  that  is  adopted 
should  be  given  in  a  full  dose.  It  should  consist  of  at  least  a 
pound  of  Epsom  saUs,  and  half  a  pound  of  sulphur,  and  this  should 
be  repeated  in  doses  consisting  of  half  the  quantity  of  each,  until 
the  constipation  is  decidedly  overcome.  Stimulants  would  be  dan- 
gerous, and  astringent  medicine  \Yould  be  actual  poison  in  the  dis- 
ease. 

It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  the  precautions  already  recommended 
should  be  carefully  observed,  in  order  to  give  the  physic  the  best 
chance  of  passing  into  the  bowels  ;  that  the  patent  pump  should  be 
in  frequent  requisition  for  the  administration  of  clysters ;  and  that 
when  purging  is  once  induced,  a  lax  state  of  the  bowels  should  be 
kept  up  by  means  of  the  frequent  repetition  of  smaller  doses  of  the 
medicine.  The  diet  should  consist  principally  of  mashes,  gruel,  lin- 
seed tea,  fresh  cut  young  grass,  young  and  fresh  vetches,  and  carrots. 
The  conclusion  of  the  treatment  will  be  to  administer  the  Epsom 
salts  in  doses  of  four  or  six  ounces,  as  an  alterative,  for  a  few  days 
afterward ;  to  which,  if  there  exist  any  debility,  add  two  drachms  of 
gentian  and  one  drachm  of  ginger. 

BLACK-WATER. 

This  is  only  another  and  the  concluding  stage  of  Red-water. 
When  it  follows  the  acute  or  inflammatory  disease,  it  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  favorable  symptom  if  the  urine  contains  no  prurient  mat- 
ter, and  has  no  unpleasant  smell.  It  shows  that  the  blood  is  not 
discharged  so  rapidly  and  forcibly  as  it  was  ;  and  that  it  hangs  about 
the  mouths  of  the  vessels,  or  is  contained  in  the  cavity  of  the  kidney, 
or  in  the  bladder,  sufficiently  long  to  be  changed  from  arterial  to 
venous  blood,  and  the  practitioner  will  be  encouraged  to  proceed  in 
the  course  which  he  had  adopted  :  but  if  purulent  matter  mingles 
with  the  black  Wood,  it  indicates  the  sad  extent  of  the  mischief  that 
has  been  done.     It  is  a  proof  of  ulceration,  if  not  of  gangrene,  and 


874  CATTLE 

shows  that  a  degree  of  disorganization  has  taken  place  which  must 
speedily  terniiiu.te  in  death. 

If,  in  chronic  red-water,  or  that  whi?h  depends  on  disease  of  the 
liver,  the  discharge  becomes  of  a  darkei  and  still  darker  brown,  until 
it  has  assumed  an  almost  black  character,  it  shows  either  Jiat  the 
system  is  loaded  with  a  superabundance  of  this  empoisoned  secre- 
tion, and  of  which  it  cannot  rid  itself,  or  that  the  irritation  caused  by 
the  continued  presence  of  so  acrimonious  a  fluid  is  producing  inflam- 
mation, gangrene,  and  death,  in  the  vessels  that  are  filled  and  op- 
pressed by  it.  In  the  last  i'tage  of  the  disease,  when  the  urine 
assumes  a  darker  brown  or  black  color,  no  remedy  seems  to  have 
any  eflicacy  ;  the  animal  is  sunk  beyond  recovery,  and  he  stretches 
himself  out  and  dies,  as  if  perfectly  exhausted. 

Homceopathic  treatment. — The  principal  remedy  for  this  aflfectiou 
is  ipecacuanha,  of  which  a  single  dose  will  often  suffice  to  remove  it, 
when  it  is  administered  in  time.  When  signs  of  inflammation  already 
exist,  we  must  commence  with  aconitum,  which  in  many  cases  effects 
a  cure  by  itself.  The  efficacy  of  cantharide?  has  been  proved  many 
times  by  giving  one  or  two  doses  each  day.  If  the  staling  of  blood 
be  connected  with  external  violence,  for  instance,  with  a  blow  on  the 
loins,  arnica  is  the  remedy.  When  it  depends  on  vesical  calculus, 
uva  ursi  should  be  employed. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  KIDNEYS. 

Cattle  are  occasionally  subject  to  inflammation  of  the  kidneys,  bear- 
ing considerable  resemblance  to  acute  red-water,  but  attended  by 
more  of  the  symptoms  of  pure  inflammation  of  that  organ  in  other 
animals.  At  first  there  are  seldom  any  indications  of  disease  beyond 
a  straining  eff"ort  in  voiding  the  urine,  and  which  is  ejected  forcibly 
and  in  small  quantities,  the  loins  being  more  than  usually  tender,  and, 
perhaps,  a  little  hot.  In  a  day  or  two  afterward,  however,  the  beast 
becomes  dull,  and  careless  about  his  food  ;  the  difficulty  of  staling 
increases  ;  blood  is  perceived  to  mingle  with  the  urine  ;  the  muzzle 
become  dry  ;  the  horns  and  ears  cold  ;  the  pulse  frequent  and  hard, 
and  the  breathing  quickened.  Diarrhoea  or  dysentery  is  now. ob- 
served ;  the  evacuations  are  fetid  ;  they  too  are  discharged  with 
effort  and  in  diminished  quantities,  and  at  length  cease  to  appear. 

The  difficulty  of  passing  the  urine  becomes  rapidly  greater  ;  the 
beast  strangely  bows  his  back,  and  groans  from  intensity  of  pain  ;  at 
length  total  suppression  of  urine  ensues ;  cold  sweats  break  out, 
principally  about  the  back,  sides,  and  shoulders,  and  the  patient 
trembles  all  over  ;  he  moans  continually,  but  the  moaning  gets  lower 
and  lower  ;  he  becomes  paralyzed  behind  ;  the  pulse  can  scarcely  be 
felt ;  the  animal  falls  ;  he  is  incapable  of  rising,  and  he  dies  in  three 
or  four  days  after  the  apparent  commencement  of  the  attack. 

This  is  especially  a  disease  of  the  spring  time  of  the  year.     It  is 


THE  KIDNEYS  AND  BLADDER.  375 

the  consequence  of  over-nourishment :  there  is  a  predisposition  to 
inflammation ;  and  from  some  cause,  more  or  less  apparent,  that  in- 
flammation is  directed  to  the  kidney.  The  treatment  will  comprise 
plentiful  bleeding,  active  purging,  the  administration  of  emollient 
clysters,  fomentation  over  the  loins  or  the  application  of  a  mustard 
poultice  to  them,  bran  mashes,  gruel,  and  a  small  quantity  of  green 
succulent  food.  There  is  a  connection  between  all  these  affections  of 
the  kidneys,  and  inflammation  of  the  larger  intestines  lying  in  the 
neighborhood  of  them  ;  thence  the  previous  dysentery,  and  the  often 
obstinate  constipation  of  red-water  and  pure  inflammation  of  these 
organs ;  and  then  ^e  the  necessity  of  large  and  repeated  doses  of 
purgative  medicine,  but  from  which  all  stimulating  ingredients  should 
be  excluded,  and  Avhich  would  probably,  in  these  cases,  best  consist 
of  castor  or  linseed  oil.  The  clysters  also  should  be  truly  emollient, 
that  w4iile  they  assist  in  opening  the  bowels,  they  may  act  as  sooth- 
ing fomentations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  inflamed  organ.  Both 
the  oil  and  the  clysters  should  be  continued  until  the  inflammation 
has  perfectly  subsided.  To  the  use  of  these  the  treatment  should 
generally  be  confined — most  certainly  in  no  part  of  it  should  the 
shghtest  portion  of  diuretic  medicine  be  administered. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — In  general  this  disease  is  cured  by  means 
of  aconitum,  after  which  one  or  two  doses  of  cantharides  should  be 
given.  In  obstinate  cases,  when  the  disease  does  not  yield  to  several 
doses  of  the  latter  remedy,  of  which  however  more  than  one  must 
not  be  taken  during  the  day,  we  have  recourse  to  hyoscyamns.  Ni~ 
trum  is  also  very  useful.  When  there  is  obstinate  constipation,  nux 
vomica  should  be  given.  Arnica  is  indicated  whenever  the  disease  is 
attributable  to  an  external  injury. 

THE  KIDNEYS  AND  BLADDER. 

The  urine  secreted,  or  separated  by  the  kidney,  having  first  accu- 
mulated in  the  cavity  in  the  centre  of  that  organ,  is  conveyed  through 
a  duct  called  the  ureter  to  a  more  capacious  reservoir,  the  bladder. 
The  ureters  are  large ;  the  internal  membrane  is  strong  ;  the  open- 
ing into  the  bladder  is  near  to  the  neck  of  that  vessel,  and  the  ureters 
terminate  near  to  each  other. 

The  Bladder  of  the  ox,  larger,  longer,  and  of  a  more  oval  form 
fban  that  of  the  cow,  is  lodged  between  the  rectum  and  the  internal 
iurface  of  the  lower  bones  of  the  pelvis.  It  is  supported  by  a  trans- 
verse ligament,  which  ties  it  to  the  sides  of  the  pelvis  ;  while  it  is  at- 
tached by  cellular  membrane  to  the  rectum  above  and  to  the  pelvis 
below,  it  is  confined  entirely  to  the  cavity  of  the  pelvis,  for  one  of 
the  compartments  of  the  paunch  affords  an  insuperable  obstacle  to 
its  entering  the  proper  cavity  of  the  abdomen.  When  distended  by 
urine,  its  increase  of  size  is  principally  shown  by  its  greater  round- 
ness, and  not  by   its  increased  length  and  descent  into  the  cavity  of 


876  CATTLE 


the  belly.  In  examination  and  in  operation  for  stone  inHhe  bladder, 
this  should  not  be  lost  sight  of.  It  has  three  coats  :  the  outer  and 
peritoneal ;  the  central  or  muscular,  and  the  inner  coat,  which  is 
lined  with  numerous  glands,  that  secrete  a  mucous  fluid  in  order  to 
defend  the  bladder  from  the  acrimony  of  the  urine. 

The  bladder  terminates  in  a  small  neck,  aronnd  which  is  a  continua- 
tion of  the  common  muscular  coat,  or,  in  the  opinion  of  some,  a  dis- 
tinct circular  muscle,  the  sphincter,  whose  natural  state  is  that  of 
contraction ;  so  that  the  passage  remains  closed,  and  the  urine  re- 
tained, until,  the  bladder  being  stretched  to  a  certain  extent,  the 
fluid  is  expelled  either  by  the  will  of  the  animal,  or  the  involuntary 
contraction  of  the  muscular  coat.  This  muscle  is  weak  in  the  ox. 
Advantage  may  be  tak*>n  of  this  weakness  of  the  sphincter  muscle, 
for  in  retention  of  urine,  or  when,  for  the  purpose  of  some  operation, 
it  may  be  expedient  to  empty  the  bladder,  the  slightest  pressure 
upon  it  by  the  hand  introduced  into  the  rectum  will  readily  effect  it. 

Having  passed  the  sphincter  muscle,  the  urine  flows  through  the 
urethra  and  is  evacuated.  This  canal  is  long  and  small ;  it  pursues 
a  tortuous  path.  The  peculiar  form  and  direction  of  some  of  the 
muscles  of  that  region  compel  the  penis  to  take  a  kind  of  double 
curve,  not  unlike  an  aS',  before  it  takes  its  ultimate  straight  course  ; 
and  on  these  accounts  the  ox  suffers  occasionally  from  the  entangle- 
ment of  calculi  in  the  folds  of  the  urethra. 

The  bladder  of  the  cow  is  smaller  and  rounder  than  that  of  the 
ox.  The  rumen  is  as  large  as  in  the  ox,  and  occupies  the  greater 
part  of  the  abdomen  ;  but  additional  room  must  be  left  for  the  im- 
pregnated uterus,  and  that  is  effected  in  some  measure  at  the  expense 
of  the  bladder ;  while  also,  to  obviate  the  ill  effects  of  occasional 
pressure  in  the  distended  state  of  the  uterus,  the  sphincter  muscle  at 
the  neck  of  the  bladder  of  the  cow  is  much  larger  and  stronger  than 
the  same  muscle  in  the  ox. 

The  circumstances  of  disease  to  be  considered  with  reference  to 
the  bladder  are  the  foreign  bodies,  principally  calculi,  which  it  may 
contain  ;  the  inflammation  resulting  from  that  or  from  other  causes  ; 
rupture,  and  inversion  of  it. 

URINARY    CALCULI. 

Concretions  are  found  in  the  urinary  passages  of  cattle.  One 
cause  of  their  retention  may  be  the  form  of  the  passages.  Many 
calculi  are  retained  in  the  bladder,  and  thus  become  the  centre 
around  which  other  matter  collects,  layer  upon  layer.  It  it  probably 
on  this  account  that  calculi  are  found  so  much  oftener  in  the  ox  than 
the  cow  ;  in  the  former  the  urethra  is  long  and  small,  in  the  latter  it 
is  short  and  capacious. 

The  great  function  discharged  by  the  kidney  in  catfle  may  like- 
wise account  for  the  more  frequent  formation  of  calculi.     When  so 


STONE  IN  THE  KIDNEYS  AND  THE  URETERS.  877 

much  more  blood  passes  through  this  organ,  that  the  useless  oi 
excrementitious  parts  of  it  may  be  expelled,  the  supposition  is  rea- 
sonable that  a  greater  portion  of  the  substances  of  which  urinary 
calculi  are  composed  will  be  found.  The  food  of  cattle  may  have 
much  to  do  with  it ;  and  the  greater  proportion  of  earthy  matter 
which  they  swallow,  in  the  first  rude  cropping  of  the  herbage,  and 
the  carelessness  with  which  they  often  tear  it  up  by  the  root,  »  the 
earth  which  they  sometimes  voluntarily  take  to  prevent  the  develop- 
ment of  acidity  in  the  stomach,  or  to  remove  it. 

The  urinary  calculi  that  have  been  examined  have  been  found  to 
be  composed  of  nearly  the  same  materials,  and  hi  proportions  not 
often  varying.  They  have  chiefly  yielded  carbonate  of  lime,  a  small 
quantity  of  carbonate  of  magnesia,  some  traces  of  phosphate  of  hme, 
and  a  certain  quantity  of  mucus,  which  has  served  as  cement  between 
the  diflferent  layers.  The  form  of  the  calculus  has  considerably  dif- 
fered. When  there  has  been  but  one  central  nucleus,  the  form  has 
been  more  or  less  circular;  but  in  a  majority,  the  stone  has  acquired 
magnitude  by  the  union  of  various  small  distinct  calculi.  The  form 
of  the  mass  has  consequently  been  difierent  in  different  specimens. 

The  floor  of  the  cow-house,  and  sometimes  bare  places  in  the  field, 
will  show  where  a  considerable  quantity  of  gritty  matter  has  been 
discharged.  This  indicates  a  diseased  state  of  the  urine  at  the  time, 
not  perhaps  sufficiently  serious  to  interfere  materially  with  the  general 
health,  but  which  may  eventually  lead  to  the  formation  of  stone  in 
the  bladder  or  kidney,  or  to  other  serious  maladies.  The  sandy 
matter  is  either  white,  approaching  to  gray  or  yellow  ;  or  it  is  brown, 
with  varying  shades  of  red  or  yellow. 

Chemists  have  now  satisfactorily  ascertained  the  nature  and  causes 
of  these  discharges,  and  the  means  of  remedying  them.  The  light- 
colored  granules  show  deficiency,  and  the  dark-colored  prove  excess, 
of  acid  in  the  urine.  In  the  one  there  is  a  deposite  of  earthy  matter 
from  deficiency  of  acid,  and  in  the  other  there  is  a  crystallization  of 
the  acid  itself.  In  the  one,  cream  of  tartar,  or  dilute  sulphuric  acid 
might  be  administered  with  advantage  ;  and  in  the  other,  earth,  or  a 
portion  of  chalk  mixed  with  common  loam,  may  be  placed  before  the 
beast,  or  doses  of  carbonate  of  soda  may  be  given.  Danger  is  most 
to  be  apprehended  from  the  white  deposit,  which  is  frequently  the 
precursor  or  the  accompaniment  of  gravel — a  deposition  in  the  blad- 
der to  which  cattle  are  far  more  subject  than  farmers  or  agriculturists 
are  usually  aware. 

STONE    IN    THE    KIDNEYS    AND    THE    URETERS. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  many  calculi  descend  from  the  cavity 
or  pelvis  of  the  kindey  through  the  ureters  mto  the  bladder ;  yet 
there  is  but  one  case  of  each  on  record. 


878  CATTLE. 


STONE  IN    THE    BLADDER. 

It  is  with  the  calculus  that  has  descended  into  the  bladder  and 
there  increased  in  size,  or  that  was  originally  formed  there,  that  the 
practitioner  will  have  most  to  do,  either  while  it  continues  in  the 
bladder,  or  in  its  after  progress  through  the  urethra. 

Th%  symptoms  that  would  indicate  stone  in  the  bladder  are  some- 
what obscure.  1'here  are  many  that  prove  plainly  enough  a  state  of 
suffering,  and  of  general  excitation  or  fever  ; — rumination  ceases — the 
mouth  is  hot — the  flanks  heave — the  animal  is  continually  lying  down 
and  getting  up  again — it  is  looking  mournfully  towards  its  flank. 
Then  comes  a  peculiar  trembling  of  the  hind  limbs,  and  the  frequent 
straining  to  void  urine — a  straining  at  some  times  quite  ineffectual, 
at  other  times  producing  the  discharge  of  a  small  quantity,  and  that 
occasionally  mingled  with  blood.  These  symptoms  will  direct  the 
attention  of  the  practitioner  to  the  urinary  organs.  In  order  to 
ascertain  the  nature  of  the  complaint,  he  will  introduce  his  hand  into 
the  rectum.  The  bladder  will  easily  be  detected.  It  will  probably 
be  distended  by  urine  ;  he  will  gently  press  upon  it,  and  the  con- 
tained fluid  will  be  expelled,  and  if  there  is  a  calculus  in  the  bladder, 
it  will  be  readily  felt.  He  must  not,  however,  be  alarmed  if  this 
pressure  should  at  first  produce  violent  pain  resembling  colic — he 
must  desist  for  a  few  minutes,  and  try  again.  A  sound  could  not  be 
used  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  the  calculus,  nor  even  the  flexible 
catheter. 

There  are  two  courses  to  be  pursued  in  such  a  case — either  to 
slaughter  the  animal  immediately,  if  it  be  should  be  in  tolerable  con- 
dition, or  to  remove  the  stone   by  the  usual  operation  of  lithotomy. 

All  attempts  to  dissolve  the  calculus  by  the  use  of  muriatic  or  any 
other  acid  will  be  as  fruitless  as  they  have  proved  to  be  in  the  human 
being  ;  and  the  length  and  small  caliber  of  the  urethra,  as  well  as  its 
double  curve,  prevent  the  possibility  of  having  recourse  to  the  safe 
and  effectual  operation  of  breaking  down  the  stone  within  the  bladder. 

In  the  ox,  on  account  of  the  length  of  the  penis,  or  for  other 
reasons,  two  muscles  descend  from  the  anus,  and  pursue  their  course 
until  they  arrive  at  about  the  middle  of  the  penis,  a  httle  in  front  of  the 
scrotum  ;  there  they  attach  themselves  to  the  penis,  and  draw  it  up, 
and  force  it  to  bend  or  curve  upon  itself  ;  and  it  takes,  as  has  already 
been  stated,  the  form  of  an  inverted  S.  No  stilett  can  be  forced 
through  such  a  double  curvature.  The  operator  must  either  cut  down 
on  the  urethra,  without  any  stilett  within  to  guide  him,  at  the  point 
where  again,  below  the  anus,  it  curves  round  tiie  pelvic  bones  in  order 
to  enter  the  pelvic  cavity,  and  which,  if  he  is  a  tolerable  anatomist,  and 
proceeds  with  some  caution,  he  may  readily  accomplish  ;  or  he  must  get 
rid  of  the  first  curve,  and  that  may  be  effected  without  much  difficul- 
ty.    The  hair  must  be  cut  off  immediately  in  front  of  the  scrotum  ;  a 


STONE  IN  THE  URETHRA.  S79 

longitudinal  incision  must  then  be  made,  six  inches  in  length,  through 
the  sheath,  upon  the  penis,  and  in  the  direction  in  which  it  lies.  The 
penis  being  exposed,  it  is  seized  and  drawn  forward  in  its  sheath  ;  the 
muscles  relax,  the  penis  is  readily  brought  into  a  straight  direction, 
and  held  so  for  a  sufficient  time  to  admit  the  introduction  of  a  stilett, 
which  should  either  be  composed  of  whalebone,  and  very  flexible,  or 
it  should  be  made  of  iron,  and  jointed.  The  more  flexible  the  cathe- 
ter is,  the  more  readily  it  will  accommodate  itself  to  the  tendeney  of 
the  muscles  to  restore  the  inverted  S  curve,  and  the  more  readily 
likewise  may  it  be  bent  round  the  bony  arch  beyond,  and  so  diminish 
the  length  of  the  incision  which  must  afterwards  be  made  between 
the  anus  and  the  scrotum. 

The  sound  being  passed  through  the  curvature  thus  temporarily  re- 
moved, and  its  point  felt  below  the  anus,  the  operator  must  cut  into  the 
urethra  at  that  part.  Into  this  opening  he  must  inti  oduce  another 
rod,  straight  and  grooved,  and  pass  it  on  into  the  bladder  ;  and  then, 
by  means  of  a  probe-pointed  bistoury  running  in  this  groove,  the 
incision  must  be  carried  on  to  the  side  of  the  anus,  and  through  a 
portion  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder  corresponding  with  the  supposed 
size  of  the  calculus.  The  operator  must  then  pass  his  right  hand 
into  the  rectum,  and  the  two  first  fingers  of  the  left  hand  into  the 
bladder,  and  with  the  right  hand  guide  the  calculus  between  the 
fingers  of  the  left  hand,  by  which,  or  by  means  of  a  pair  of  forceps 
pushed  into  the  wound,  it  should  be  seized  and  extracted. 

It  is  not  always  that  there  Avill  be  much  bleeding,  or  that  it  will  be 
necessary  to  take  up  any  of  the  vessels,  or  even  to  pass  any  sutures 
throus^h  the  edc^es  of  the  wound,  unless  the  incision  has  been  more 
than  usually  large.  The  urine  will  for  a  few  days  be  principally 
passed  through  the  wound,  but  a  portion  of  it  will  soon  begin  to  find 
its  ways  through  the  urethra,  and  that  quantity  will  daily  increase,  and, 
in  quite  as  short  a  time  as  can  be  expected,  the  wound  will  be  per- 
fectly healed. 

STONE    IN    THE    URETHRA. 

On  account  of  tl^  length,  and  narrowness,  and  curvature  of  the 
urethra  in  the  ox,  obstruction  of  that  passage  by  a  calculus  is  a  cir- 
cumstance of  too  frequent  occurrence.  The  symptom  which  would 
lead  to  a  suspicion  of  this,  would  be,  in  addition  to  the  evidence  of 
considerable  pain  and  general  irritation,  a  complete,  or  almost  com- 
plete, suppression  of  urine.  The  practitioner  should  examine  tlie 
urethra  through  the  whole  of  its  course  anterior  to  the  inverted  S 
curve  ;  the  calculus  will  tlien  be  felt,  or  probably  the  protuberance 
caused  by  its  presence  will  be  immediately  seen.  The  duty  of  the 
surgeon  is  now,  in  most  cases,  easily  and  quickly  perfoimed.  An 
oblique  incision  must  be  made  upon  the  calculus,  sufficiently  long  to 
enable  it  to  be  taken  out.     By  means  of  the  oblique  incision,  the 


380  CATTLE. 


calculus  and  the  urethra  are  less  likely  to  roll  under  the  knife,  and 
the  wound  will  more  readily  heal.  One  or  two  sutures  should  be 
passed  through  the  edges  of  the  wound,  which  will  speedily  adhere. 
The  operation  is  simple,  but  the  danger  of  neglect  is  great ;  and 
many  a  beast  has  been  lost  by  the  bladder  being  distended,  and 
continuing  so  until  violent  inflammation  of  its  mucous  coat  has  taken 
place,  or  it  has  been  ruptured. 

Should  not  the  calculus  be  in  this  anterior  portion  of  the  urethra, 
that  between  the  scrotum  and  the  anus  should  be  carefully  examined  ; 
and  if  it  be  not  found  there,  it  is  imprisoned  somewhere  in  the  inverted 
>S^  curve.  An  incision  must  then  be  made  anteriorly  to  the  scrotum, 
in  the  manner  already  described  ;  the  penis  drawn  out ;  the  curve  for 
a  while  obliterated  ;  the  situation  of  the  obstruction  discovered  ;  the 
urethra  laid  open  at  that  point,  and  the  calculus  extracted. 

Some  veterinarians  have  remarked,  that  oxen  are  mos-  subject  to 
the  formation  of  these  calculi  during  the  autumn  and  winter  ;  and 
that,  as  the  spring  advances,  the  new  grass  produces  a  more  abun- 
dant secretion  of  urine,  and  thus  relaxes  the  urinaiy  organs,  and 
enables  the  calculi  more  easily  to  pass  ;  while  the  fresh  herbage  gives 
an  alkaline  and  soapy  character  to  the  urine,  which  causes  some  of 
the  recently  formed  calculi  to  be  dissolved  in  the  bladder. 

Homoiopathic  treatment. — After  an  operation,  it  is  necessary  to 
dress  the  wound  with  arnica  water,  to  give  some  doses  of  this  medi- 
cine internally  to  prevent  traumatic  fever,  and  to  give  one  or  two 
doses  of  china,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  blood.  The  homoeopathic 
remedy  to  be  employed  is  uva  ursi,  which  prevents  inflammation, 
consequently  contraction  of  the  urethra,  and  assists  in  favoring  the 
expulsion  of  the  foreign  body,  if  it  have  not  already  passed  into  the 
urethra,  in  which  case  all  the  medical  means  is  in  general  useless. 
Lycopodium  has  also  been  tried  with  success. 

RUPTURE    OF    THE    BLADDER. 

This  is  the  necessary  consequence  of  over-distension  of  a  vessel,  the 
coats  of  which  are  naturally  weak;  or  it  may  be  produced  by  a  care- 
less or  brutal  mode  of  casting  the  animal.  It  would  not  require  any 
great  shock  in  order  to  rupture  the  bladder,  after  suppression  of  urine 
had  existed  several  days,  and  the  coats  of  the  bladder  had  begun  to 
be  weakened  by  inflammation. 

The  circumstances  which  would  most  unerringly  indicate  a  rupture 
of  the  bladder,  would  be  the  impossibility  of  detecting  that  vessel  in 
the  pelvic  cavity  when  the  hand  was  introduced  into  the  rectum ;  or, 
after  the  bladder  had  been  felt,  round  and  hard  almost  as  a  foot-ball, 
and  the  animal  had  been  expressing  in  every  possible  way  the  tor- 
ture he  endured,  a  perfect  calm  all  at  once  succeeding.  This  would 
probably  be  hailed  by  the  inexperienced  practitioner  as  a  symptom 
of  recovery,  but  the  skillfu.  one  would  regard  it  as  the  forerunner  of 


INVERSION  OF  THE  BLADDER. 


death.  If  a  day  or  two  had  passed  since  the  rupture  of  the  blad- 
der, the  experienced  eye  would  detect  it  by  a  certain  engorgement 
of  the  limbs,  and  particularly  of  the  hind  limbs ;  and  there  would 
often  be  an  evident  urinous  smell  about  the  animal,  even  before  it 
was  dead.  In  such  case,  the  bladder  is  commonly  found  in  a  state 
of  gangrene  ;  the  intestines  are  highly  inflamed,  and  the  whole  of 
the  meat  is  discolored  and  nauseous.  It  is,  therefore,  of  consequence 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  these  parts  dunng  the  life  of  the  animal, 
either  that  an  operation  may  be  attempted,  or  that  the  fanner  may 
sell  him,  while  there  is  anything  about  him  that  is  saleable  besides 
his  skin.  In  fine,  when  it  is  recollected  that  the  existence  of  these 
calculi  betrays  a  constitutional  tendency  to  their  formation,  and  that 
the  removal  of  one  may  at  no  great  length  of  time  be  followed  by 
the  appearance  of  another ;  when,  from  the  length  and  narrowness, 
and,  more  especially,  from  the  singular  curvature  of  the  urethra  in 
the  ox,  it  is  very  difficult  for  calculi  to  pass ;  and  the  walls  of  the 
bladder  in  the  ox  are  so  weak  it  will  become  a  matter  for  considera- 
tion, whether  the  beast,  in  good  saleable  condition,  should  not  be 
destroyed  as  soon  as  this  obstruction  is  clearly  ascertained  ;  and, 
most  certainly,  the  animal  that  has  been  successfully  operated  upon 
for  suppression  of  urine,  and  that  is  not  then  fit  for  the  market, 
should  be  fattened,  and  got  rid  of  as  quickly  as  possible. 

The  cow  is  in  a  manner  exempt  from  these  sad  accidents,  because 
the  calculi  readily  find  their  way  through  her  short,  and  capacious, 
and  straight  urethra. 

INVERSION    OF    THE    BLADDER. 

This  has  occasionally  taken  place  in  the  violent  throes  of  partu- 
rition. The  efforts  of  the  practitioner  must  ihen  be  confined  to  the 
preservation  of  the  calf,  for  the  bladder  can  never  be  returned  to  its 
natural  situation ;  and  although  the  mother  might  possibly  survive 
the  removal  of  this  vessel,  yet  as  the  urine  must  continue  to  be 
secreted,  and  to  be  got  rid  of,  and,  trickling  down  her  legs,  would 
produce  constant  soreness  and  ulceration,  she  would  ever  be  a  nui- 
sance to  herself,  and  a  digusting  object  to  those  who  had  the  care 
of  her. 


CHAPTEK  XVI. 

PREGNANCY,    PARTURITION,    AND    THE    DISEASES 
CONNECTED    WITH    THEM. 

ABORTION,   OR    SLINKING. 

The  usual  period  of  pregnancy  in  a  cow  is  nine  calendar  months, 
and  something  over  ;  but  there  is  often  considerable  variation  in  the 
time  of  what  seems  to  be  a  natural  delivery,  and  when  the  calf  is 
likely  to  live. 

M.  Tessier,  in  a  Memoir  read  to  the  Royal  Academy  of  Science  at 
Paris,  says,  that  in  one  thousand  and  thirty-one  cows,  which  he  had 
the  opportunity  of  observing,  the  shortest  period  of  gestation  was 
two  hundred  and  forty  days,  and  the  longest  three  hundred  and 
twenty-one — difference,  eighty-one  days ;  and  counting  from  nine 
months,  fifty-one  days  over,  and  thirty  days  under.  The  average  is 
about  two  hundred  and  eighty-five  days. 

The  cow,  however,  is,  more  than  any  other  animal,  subject  to 
abortion.  This  takes  place  at  different  periods  of  pregnancy,  from 
half  of  the  usual  time  to  the  seventh,  or  almost  to  the  eighth 
month.  The  symptoms  of  tlie  approach  of  abortion,  except  the 
breeder  is  very  much  among  his  stock,  are  not  often  perceived  ;  or, 
if  perceived,  they  are  concealed  by  the  cow-herd,  lest  he  should  be 
accused  of  neglect  or  improper  treatment. 

The  cow  is  somewhat  off  her  feed — rumination  ceases — she  is 
listless  and  dull — the  miik  diminishes  or  dries  up — the  motions  of 
the  foetus  become  more  feeble,  and  at  length  cease  altogether — 
there  is  a  slight  degree  of  enlargement  of  the  belly — there  is  a  little 
staggering  in  her  walk — when  she  is  down  she  hes  longer  than 
usual,  and  when  she  gets  up  she  stands  for  a  longer  time  motionless. 

As  the  abortion  approaches,  a  yellow  or  red  glairy  fluid  runs 
from  the  vagina — (this  is  a  symptom  which  rarely  or  never  de- 
ceives)— her  bieathing  becomes  laborious  and  slightly  convulsive. 
The  belly  has  for  several  days  lost  its  natural  rotundity,  and  has 
been  evidently  falling — she  begins  to  moan — the  pulse  becomes 
small,  wiry,  and  intermittent.  At  length  labor  comes  on,  and  is 
often  attended  with  much  difficulty  and  danger. 

If  the  abortion  have  been  caused  bv  bl.  ws  or  violence,  whether 


ABORTION,  OR  SLINKING. 


from  brutality,  or  the  animal  being  teased  by  other  cows  in  season, 
or  oxen,  the  symptoms  are  more  intense.  The  animal  suddenly 
ceases  to  eat  and  to  ruminate — is  uneasy,  paws  the  ground,  rests  her 
head  on  the  manger  while  she  is  standing,  and  on  her  flank  when 
she  is  lying  down — haemorrhage  frequently  comes  on  from  the  uterus, 
or  when  this  is  not  the  case,  the  mouth  of  the  uterus  is  spasmodi- 
cally contracted.  The  throes  come  on,  are  distressingly  violent,  and 
continue  until  the  womb  is  ruptured.  Should  not  all  these  circum- 
stances be  observed,  yet  the  labor  is  protracted  and  dangerous. 

Abortion  is  sometimes  singularly  frequent  in  particular  districts,  or 
on  particular  farms.  It  seems  to  assume  an  epizootic  or  epidemic 
form.  This  has  been  accounted  for  in  various  ways.  Some  have 
imagined  it  to  be  contagious.  It  is  destructively  propagated  among 
the  cows,  but  this  is  probably  to  be  explained  on  a  different  princi- 
ple than  that  of  contagion.  The  cow  is  an  animal  considerably  im- 
aginative, and  highly  irritable  during  the  period  of  pregnancy.  In 
"abortion,  the  foetus  is  often  putrid  before  it  is  discharged  ;  and  the 
placenta,  or  afterbirth,  rarely  or  never  immediately  follows  it,  but 
becomes  decomposed,  and,  as  it  drops  away  in  fragments,  emits  a 
peculiar  and  most  noisome  smell.  This  smell  seems  to  be  singularly 
annoying  to  the  other  cows — they  sniff  at  it,  and  then  run  bellow- 
ing about.  Some  sympathetic  influence  is  exercised  on  their  ute- 
rine organs,  and  in  a  few  days  a  greater  or  less  number  of  those 
that  had  pastured  together  likewise  abort.  Hence  arises  the  rapid- 
ity with  which  the  fcetus  is  usually  taken  awav  and  buried  deeply, 
and  far  from  the  cows;  and  hence  the  more  effectual  preventive  of 
smearing  the  parts  of  the  cow  with  tar  or  stinking  oils,  in  order  to 
conceal  or  subdue  the  smell ;  and  hence,  too,  the  ineffectual  pre- 
venting of  removing  her  to  a  far  distant  pasture. 

The  pastures  on  which  the  blood  or  inflammatory  fever  is  most 
prevalent  are  those  on  which  the  cows  oftenest  shnk  their  calves. 
Whatever  can  become  a  source  of  general  excitation  and  fever  is 
likely,  during  pregnancy,  to  produce  inflammation  of  the  womb  : 
or  whatever  would,  under  other  circumstances,  excite  inflammation 
of  almost  any  organ,  has  at  that  time  its  injurious  effect  determined 
to  this  particular  one. 

'i'here  is  no  farmer  who  is  not  aware  of  the  injurious  effect  of  the 
coarse,  rank  herbage  of  low,  marshy,  and  woody  countries,  and  he 
regards  these  districts  as  the  chosen  residence  of  red  water  ;  it  may  be 
added,  that  these  districts  are  also  the  chosen  residence  of  abortion. 

Hard  and  mineral  waters  are  justly  considered  as  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  many  diseases  in  cattle,  and  for  abortion  among  the  rest. 

Some  careful  observers  have  occasionally  attributed  abortion  to  the 
disproportion  in  size  between  the  male  and  female.  Farmers  used 
to  be  too  fond  of  looking  out  for  a  great  overgrown  bull  for  their 
dairy  or  breeding  cows,  and  many  a   heifer  or  little  cow  was  seri- 


884  CATTLE. 


Ously  injured :  she  either  cast  her  calf,  or  was  lost  in  parturition. 
This  error  has  been  long  exploded  among  the  breeders  of  sheep  ; 
and  breeders  of  cattle  are  beginning  to  act  more  wisely. 

Cows  that  have  been  long  afflicted  with  hoose,  and  that  degener- 
ating into  consumption,  are  exceedingly  subject  to  abortion.  They 
are  continually  in  heat — they  rarely  become  pregnant,  or  if  they 
do,  a  great  proportion  of  them  cast  their  calves.  When  consump- 
tion is  estabhshed,  and  the  cow  is  much  wasted  away,  she  will  rarely 
retain  her  calf  during  the  natural  period  of  pregnancy. 

An  in-calf  beast  will  scarcely  have  hoove  to  any  considerable 
extent  without  afterwards  abortmg.  The  pressure  of  the  distended 
rumen  seems  to  injure  or  destroy  the  foetus.  Even  where  the  dis- 
tension of  the  stomach  does  not  wear  a  serious  character,  abortion 
often  follows  the  sudden  change  from  poor  to  luxuriant  food.  Cows 
that  have  been  out  and  half-starved  in  the  winter,  and  incautiously 
turned  on  rich  pasture  in  the  spring,  are  too  apt  to  cast  their 
calves  from  the  undue  general  or  local  excitation  that  is  set  up  p 
and,  as  has  been  already  remarked,  a  sudden  change  from  rich 
pasture  to  a  state  of  comparative  starv^ation  will  produce  the  same 
effect,  but  from  an  opposite  cause.  Hence  it  is  that  when  this  dispo- 
sition to  abort  first  appears  in  a  dairy,  it  is  usually  in  a  cow  that 
has  been  lately  purchased.  Fright,  from  whatever  cause,  may  pro- 
duce abortion.  There  are  singular  cases  on  record  of  whole  herds 
of  cows  slinking  their  calves  after  being  terrified  by  an  unusually 
violent  thunder-storm.  Commerce  with  the  bull  soon  after  concep- 
tion is  a  frequent  cause  of  abortion.  The  casting  of  the  calf  has 
already  been  attributed  to  the  sympathetic  influence  of  the  effluvia 
from  the  decomposing  placenta  :  there  are  plenty  of  instances  in  which 
other  putrid  smells  have  produced  the  same  effect,  and  therefore 
the  inmates  of  crowded  cow-houses  are  not  unfrequently  subject  to 
this  mishap. 

The  use  of  a  diseased  bull  will  occasion  abortion,  and  the  calves 
will  be  aborted  in  a  diseased  state. 

Besides  these  tangible  causes  of  abortion,  there  is  the  mysterious 
agency  of  the  atmosphere.  There  are  certain  seasons  when  abortion 
is  strangely  frequent  and  fatal ;  while  at  other  times  it  in  a  manner 
disappears  for  several  successive  years. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  must  be  added  to  the  number  of  epi- 
demic diseases. 

The  consequences  of  premature  calving  are  frequently  of  a  very 
serious  nature.  It  has  been  stated  that  there  is  often  considerable 
spasmodic  closure  of  the  mouth  of  the^  uterus,  and  that  the  calf  is 
produced  with  much  difficulty  and  pain,  and  especially  if  a  few  days 
have  elapsed  after  the  death  of  the  young  one.  When  this  is  the 
case,  the  mother  frequently  dies,  or  her  recovery  is  much  slower  than 
after  natural  parturition.     The  coat  continues  rough  and  staring  for 


ABORTION,  OR  SLINKING. 


a  long  time— the  skin  clings  to  the  ribs — the  appetite  does  not  re- 
turn, and  the  milk  is  dried  up.  Some  internal  chronic  complaint  now 
takes  its  rise,  and  the  foundation  is  laid  for  consumption  and  death. 

When  the  case  is  more  favorable,  tlie  results  are,  nevertheless, 
very  annoying.  The  cow  very  soon  goes  again  to  heat,  but  in  a  great 
many  cases  she  fails  to  become  pregnant ;  she  almost  certainly  does 
so  if  she  is  put  to  the  bull  during  the  first  heat  after  abortion.  The 
heat  again  and  again  returns,  but  she  does  not  stand  to  the  bulling  ; 
and  so  the  season  is  wasted,  while  she  becomes  a  perfect  nuisance 
by  continually  worrying  the  other  cattle. 

If  she  should  come  in  calf  again  during  that  season,  it  is  very 
probable  that  about  the  same  period  of  utero-gestation,  or  a  little 
later,  she  will  again  abort ;  or  that  when  she  becomes  in  calf  the 
following  year,  the  same  fatality  will  attend  her.  Some  say  that 
this  disposition  to  cast  her  young  one  gradually  ceases;  that  if  she 
does  miscarry,  it  is  at  a  later  and  still  later  period  of  pregnancy ; 
and  that,  in  about  three  or  four  years,  she  may  be  depended  upon 
as  a  tolerably  safe  breeder :  he,  however,  would  be  exceedingly  in- 
attentive to  his  interest  who  kept  a  profitless  beast  so  long. 

The  calf  very  rarely  lives,  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  it  is  born 
dead  or  putrid.  If  there  should  appear  to  be  any  chance  of  saving 
it,  it  should  be  washed  with  warm  water,  carefully  dried,  and  fed 
frequently  with  small  quantities  of  new  milk,  mixed,  according  to 
the  apparent  weakness  of  the  animal,  either  with  raw  eggs  or  good 
gruel ;  while  the  bowels  should,  if  occasion  requires,  be  opened  by 
means  of  small  doses  of  castor  oil.  If  any  considerable  period  has 
to  elapse  before  the  natural  term  of  pregnancy  would  have  expired,  it 
will  usually  be  necessary  to  bring  up  the  little  animal  entirely  by  hand. 

The  treatment  of  abortion  will  diflPer  little  from  that  of  parturition, 
presently  to  be  described.  If  the  farmer  has  once  been  tormented 
by  this  pest  in  his  dairy,  he  should  carefully  watch  the  approaching 
symptoms  of  casting  the  calf,  and  as  soon  as  he  perceives  them, 
should  remove  the  cow  from  the  pasture  to  a  comfortable  cow-house 
or  shed.  If  the  discharge  be  glairy,  but  not  offensive,  he  may  hope 
that  the  calf  is  not  dead  :  he  will  be  assured  of  this  by  the  motion 
of  the  foetus,  and  then  it  is  possible  that  the  abortion  may  yet  be 
avoided.  He  should  hasten  to  bleed  her,  and  that  copiously,  in  pro- 
portion to  her  age,  size,  condition,  and  the  state  of  excitation  in  which 
he  may  find  her  ;  and  he  should  give  a  dose  of  physic  immediately 
after  the  bleeding.  The  physic  beginning  to  operate,  he  should  ad- 
minister half  a  drachm  of  opium  and  half  an  ounce  of  sweet  spirit  of 
nitre.  Unless  she  is  in  a  state  of  great  debility,  he  should  allow 
nothing  but  gruel,  and  he  should  beep  his  patient  as  quiet  as  he  can. 
By  these  means  he  may  occasionally  allay  the  e^eneral  or  local  irri- 
tation that  precedes  or  causes  the  abortion,  and  the  cow  may  yet  go 
to  her  full  time. 

17 


386  CATTLE. 


Should,  however,  the  discharge  be  fetid,  the  conclusion  will  be 
that  the  foetus  is  dead,  and  must  be  got  rid  of,  and  that  as  speedily 
as  possible.  Bleeding  may  even  then  be  requisite,  if  much  fever 
exist ;  or,  perchance,  if  there  be  debility,  some  stimulating  drink 
may  not  be  out  of  place.  In  other  respects  the  animal  must  be 
treated  as  if  her  usual  time  of  pregnancy  iiad  been  accomplished. 

Much  may  be  done  in  the  way  of  preventing  the  formation  of  this 
habit  of  abortion  among  cows.  The  fcxtus  must  be  got  rid  of  im- 
medialchj.  It  should  be  buried  deep  and  far  from  the  cow-pasture. 
Proper  means  should  be  taken  to  hasten  the  expulsion  of  the  placen- 
ta. A  dose  of  physic  should  be  given  ;  the  ergot  of  rye,  as  hereaf- 
ter to  be  described,  should  be  administered  ;  the  hand  should  be  in- 
troduced, and  an  effort  made,  cautiously  and  gently,  to  detach  the 
placenta :  all  violence,  however,  should  be  carefully  avoided,  for 
considerable  and  fatal  hcemorrhage  may  ]je  speedily  produced.  The 
parts  of  the  cow  should  be  well  washed  with  a  solution  of  the 
chloride  of  lime,  and  this  should  be  injected  up  the  vagina,  and  also 
given  internally.  In  the  mean  time,  and  especially  after  the  expul- 
sion of  the  placenta,  the  cow-house  should  be  well  washed  with  the 
same  solution,  in  the  manner  that  was  recommended  when  the  treat- 
ment of  the  malignant  epidemic  was  under  consideration. 

The  cow,  when  beginning  to  recover,  should  be  fattened  and  sold. 
This  is  the  first  and  the  grand  step  towards  the  prevention  of  abor- 
tion, and  he  is  unwise  who  does  not  immediately  adopt  it.  All 
other  means  are  comparatively  ineflScient  and  worthless.  Should  the 
owner  be  reluctant  to  part  with  her,  two  months  at  least  should  pass 
before  she  is  permitted  to  return  to  her  companions.  Prudence 
would  probably  dictate  that  she  should  never  return  to  them,  but 
be  kept,  if  possible,  on  some  distant  part  of  the  farm. 

Abortion  having  once  occurred  on  'the  farm,  the  breeding  cows 
should  be  carefully  watched.  Although  well  fed,  they  should  not 
be  suffered  to  get  into  too  high  condition.  Unless  thev  are  deci- 
dedly  poor  and  weak,  they  should  be  bled  between  the  third  and 
fourth  months  of  pregnancy,  and  a  mild  dose  of  physic  should  be 
administered  to  each.  If  the  pest  continues  to  reappear,  the  owner 
should  most  carefully  examine  how  far  any  of  the  causes  of  abortion 
that  have  been  detected  may  exist  on  his  farm,  and  exert  himself 
in  carefully  removing  them. 

llomoeojyatkic  treatment. — xvbortion  seldom  takes  place  suddenly  ; 
in  general  it  is  announced  by  several  symptoms,  among  which  maj 
be  noticed  great  disturbance,  anxiety,  depression  of  the  mother, 
sudden  diminution  of  her  milk,  ana  the  escape  by  the  vagina  of  a 
fetid  mucous  fluid.  If  these  precursors  have  been  themselves  pre- 
ceded by  any  external  violence,  abortion  is  but  still  more  probable, 
and  we  must  hasten  to  prevent  it.  This  is  the  reason  why,  after  a 
blow,  or  a  fall,  ther«  should  be  given  without  delay  one  or  two 


TREATMENT  BEFORE  CALVING.  SSf 


doses  of  arnica,  and  if  the  cause  has  been  a  luxation  or  false  step, 
rhus  toxicodendron;  should  the  precursory  symptoms  still  show 
themselves,  pulsatilla  is  the  chief  remedy  ;  after  it,  sahina  and  secaU 
corniitum.  Lastly,  if  the  abortion  has  really  taken  place,  and  the 
placenta  delays  from  four  to  six  hours,  we  must  give  sabina,  or  bet- 
ter still  secale  cornutum,  which  generally  brings  on  the  desired  re- 
sult. ^Ye  should  have  recourse  to  manual  interference  only  in  case 
these  means  should  fail. 

SYMPTOMS    OF    PREGNANCY. 

The  symptoms  of  pregnancy  in  its  early  stage  used  to  be  thought 
exceedingly  unsatisfactory.  'I'he  period  of  being  in  season  (which 
generally  lasts  three  or  four  days,  and  then  ceases  for  a  while,  and 
returns  in  about  three  weeks)  might  entirely  pass  over ;  and  although 
it  was  then  probable  that  conception  had  taken  place,  yet  in  a 
great  many  instances  the  hopes  of  the  breeder  were  disappointed. 
It  was  not  until  between  the  third  and  fourth  month,  when  the  belly 
began  to  enlarge,  or  in  many  cases  considerably  later,  and  when 
the  motions  of  the  foetus  might  be  seen,  or  at  all  events  felt  by 
pressing  on  the  right  flank,  that  the  farmer  could  be  assured  that 
his  cow  was  in  calf.  That  gicatest  of  improvements  in  veterinary 
practice,  the  application  of  the  ear  to  the  chest  and  belly  of  various 
animals  (in  order  to  detect  by  the  different  sounds— which,  after  a 
short  time,  will  be  easily  recognized — the  state  of  the  circulation 
through  most  of  the  internal  organs,  and  consequently  the  precise 
seat  and  degree  of  inflammation  and  danger),  has  now  enabled  the 
breeder  to  ascertain  the  existence  of  pregnancy  at  as  early  a  stage 
of  it  as  six  or  eight  weeks.  The  beating  of  the  heart  of  the  calf 
will  be  distinctly  heard,  twice  or  more  than  twice  as  frequent  as 
that  of  the  mother ;  and  each  pulsation  will  betray  the  singular 
double  beating  of  the  fcetal  heart.  This  will  also  be  accompanied  by 
the  audible  rushing  of  the  blood  through  the  vessels  of  the  placenta 
The  ear  should  be  applied  to  the  right  flank,  beginning  on  the  su- 
perior part  of  it,  and  gradually  shifting  downward  and  backward. 
These  sounds  will  soon  be  heard,  and  cannot  be  mJstaken. 

TREATMENT    BEFORE  CALVING. 

Little  alteration  needs  to  be  made  in  the  management  of  the  cow 
for  the  first  seven  months  of  pregnancy  ;  except  that,  as  she  has  not 
only  to  yield  milk  for  the  profit  of  the  farmer,  but  to  nourish  the 
foetus  which  is  growing  in  her  womb,  she  should  be  well,  yet  not 
too  luxuriantly,  fed.  The  half  starved  cow  will  not  adequately  dis- 
charge this  double  duty,  nor  provide  sufficient  nutriment  for  the 
calf  when  it  has  dropped  ;  while  the  cow  in  high  condition  will  be 
dangerously  disposed  to  inflammation  and  fever,  when,  at  the  time 
of  parturition,  «ihe  is  otherwise  so  susceptible  of  the  power  of  every 


888  CATTLE. 

stimulus.  If  the  season  and  the  convenience  of  the  farmer  will 
admit  of  it,  she  will  be  better  at  pasture,  at  least  for  some  hours  in 
the  day,  than  altogether  confined  to  the  cow-house. 

At  a  somewhat  uncertain  period  before  she  calves,  there  will  be 
a  new  secretion  of  milk  for  the  expected  little  one  ;  and  un^er  the 
notion  of  somewhat  recruiting  her  strength,  in  order  better  to  enable 
her  to  discharge  her  new  duty,  but  more  from  the  uniform  testimo- 
ny of  experience  that  there  is  danger  of  local  inflammation  and  of 
general  fever,  garget  in  the  udder,  and  puerperal  fever,  if  the  new 
milk  descends  while  the  old  milk  continues  to  flow,  it  has  been  usual 
to  let  the  cow  go  dry  for  some  period  before  parturition.  Fai-mers 
and  breeders  have  been  strangely  divided  as  to  the  length  of  this 
period.  It  must  be  decided  by  circumstances.  A  cow  in  good  con- 
dition may  be  milked  much  longer  than  a  poor  one.  Her  abundance 
of  food  renders  a  period  of  respite  almost  unnecessary  ;  and  all  that 
needs  to  be  taken  care  of  is  that  the  old  milk  should  be  fairly  gone 
before  the  new  milk  springs.  In  such  a  cow,  while  there  is  danger 
of  inflammation  from  the  sudden  rush  of  new  milk  into  a  bag  already 
occupied,  there  is  also  considerable  danger  of  indurations  and  tumors 
in  the  teats  from  the  habit  of  secretion  being  too  tong  suspended. 
The  emaciated  and  overrailked  beast,  however,  must  rest  awhile  bo- 
fore  she  can  again  advantageously  discharge  the  duties  of  a  mother. 

Were  the  period  of  pregnancy  of  equal  length  at  all  times  and 
in  all  cows,  the  one  that  has  been  well  fed  might  be  milked  until 
within  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  of  parturition  ;  while  a  holiday 
of  two  months  should  be  granted  to  the  poorer  beast ;  but  as  there 
is  much  irregularity  about  this,  it  may  be  prudent  to  take  a  month 
or  five  weeks  as  the  average  period. 

The  process  of  parturition  is  one  that  is  necessarily  accompanied 
by  a  great  deal  of  febrile  excitement ;  and  therefore  when  it  neai'ly 
approaches,  not  only  should  a  little  care  be  taken  to  lessen  the 
quantity  of  food,  and  to  remove  that  which  is  of  a  stimulating 
nature,  but  a  mild  dose  of  physic,  and  a  bleeding  regulated  by  the 
condition  of  the  animal,  will  be  very  proper  precautionary  measures. 

A  moderately  open  state  of  the  bowels  is  necessary  at  the  period 
of  parturition  in  the  cow.  During  the  whole  time  of  pregnancy 
her  enormous  stomachs  sufficiently  press  upon  and  confine  the  womb  ; 
and  that  pressure  may  be  productive  of  injurious  and  fatal  conse- 
quences, if  at  this  period  the  rumen  is  suff"ered  to  be  distended  by 
unnutritious  food,  or  the  manyplus  takes  on  that  hardened  state 
to  which  it  is  occasionally  subject.  Breeders  have  been  sadly  neg- 
ligent here. 

NATURAL    LADOR. 

The  springing  of  the  udder,  or  the  rapid  enlargement  of  it  from 
the   renewed   secretion  of  milk — the  enlargement  of  the  external 


MECHANICAL  ASSISTANCE. 


parts  of  the  bearing  (the  former,  as  it  has  been  said  by  some,  in 
old  cows,  and  the  hitter  in  young  ones) — the  appearance  of  a  glar- 
ing discharge  from  the  bearing — the  evident  dropping  of  the  belly, 
with  the  appearance  of  leanness  and  narrowness  between  the  shape 
and  the  iidder— a  degree  of  uneasiness  and  fidgetiness — moanino- 
occasionally — accelerated  respiration — all  these  symptoms  will  an- 
nounce that  the  time  of  calving  is  not  far  off.  The  cow  should 
be  brought  near  home,  and  put  in  some  quiet,  sheltered  place.  In 
cold  or  stormy  weather  she  should  be  housed.  Her  uneasiness 
will  lapidly  increase — she  will  be  continually  getting  up  and  lyino- 
down — her  tail  will  begin  to  be  elevated,  and  the  commencement 
of  the  labor-pains  will  scon  be  evident. 

The  natural  progress  of  parturition  should  not  be  unnecessarily 
interfered  with.  The  cow  should  be  frequently  looked  at,  but  not 
disturbed.  Although  her  pains  may  not  be  so  strong  as  could  be 
wished,  she  should  not  be  too  closely  approached  or  examined  until 
the  water-bladder,  or  bag  containing  the  fluid  in  which  the  calf  has 
hitherto  floated,  has  protruded  and  is  broken.  Soon  afterward  it 
may  be  proper  to  ascertain  whether  the  calf  is  "  coming  the  right 
way'^  In  the  natural  presentation  of  the  foetus,  the  calf  may  be 
considered  as  couching  or  lying  on  its  belly  ;  its  fore-legs  protruding 
into  the  passage,  its  head  lying  upon  them,  or  being  a  httle  between 
them,  and  reaching  down  about  as  far  as  the  knees,  and  the  back  of 
the  calf  corresponding  with  or  opposed  to  the  back  of  the  mother. 

While  the  throes  continue  tolerably  strong,  the  farmer  or  practi- 
tioner should  have  patience,  although  the  progress  of  the  labor  mav 
be  tediously  slow.  Nature  \\\\\  at  length  safely  accompHsh  he^r 
object.  But  if  the  pains  are  evidently  diminishing,  and  hour  after 
hour  has  passed  and  the  calf  protrudes  little  or  not  at  all  more  than 
it  did,  assistance  should  be  rendered.  X  pint  of  sound  ale,  or  a  little 
spirit,  warmed,  should  be  given  in  an  equal  quantity  of  gruel  ;  warm 
gruel  should  be  frequently  administered,  or  at  least  put  within  the 
animal's  reach ;  and  access  to  cold  water  should  be  carefully  pre- 
vented. 

To  the  first  pint  of  ale  or  some  spirit,  should  be  added  a  quarter 
of  an  ounce  of  the  ergot  of  rye  (spurred  rye),  finely  powdered  ;  and 
the  same  quantity  of  the  ergot,  with  half  a  pint  of  ale,  should  be 
repeated  every  hour  until  the  pains  are  reproduced  in  their  former 
and  natural  strength,  or  the  labor  is  terminated. 

MECHANICAL    ASSISTANCE. 

The  power  of  medicince  failing,  recourse  should  be  had  to  me- 
chanical assistance,  Twelve  hours  or  more  having  elapsed  from  the 
commencement  of  the  labor,  this  should  be  done,  even  although  the 
calf  may  continue  to  he  alive ;  and  it  should  not  be  deferred  one 


CATTLE. 


moment  after  it  is  ascertained  that  the  foetus  is  dead.  Even  now, 
however,  the  cow  should  not  be  disturbed  more  than  is  absolutely 
necessary  ;  and  it  cannot  be  too  deeply  impressed  on  the  mind  of 
the  farmer,  that  the  frequent  habit  of  rousing  the  poor  animal,  and 
dri\ing  her  about,  while  she  is  in  the  act  of  calving,  or  even  before 
the  labor  begins,  is  an  unnatural,  brutal,  and  dangerous  one. 

Mr.  Skellett,  in  his  work  on  "  the  Parturition  of  the  Cow,"  (a  truly 
valuable  one  as  it  regards  the  point  now  under  consideration,  the 
mechanical  assistance  that  can  be  rendered  in  difficult  and  protracted 
labor,)  observes,  "As  the  business  proceeds,  and  the  pains  increase 
in  strength  and  rapidity,  she  confines  herself  to  a  lying  posture,  and 
in  this  posture  she  is  delivered  of  the  calf.  When  we  reflect  on  this 
conduct  of  the  animal,  left  to  herself,  we  cannot  too  much  reprobate 
the  advice  of  those  who  recommend  the  driving  her  in  the  act  of 
calving,  or  immediately  before  it  takes  place.  The  author  has  known 
a  great  many  instances  where  it  has  proved  the  death  of  the  cow,  by 
producing  inflammation  and  all  its  bad  consequences.  Every  ra- 
tional man  will  agree  that  the  above  practice  is  both  cruel  and  in- 
consistent ;  for  the  animal  herself,  as  soon  as  the  hours  of  calving 
come  on,  immediately  leaves  the  rest  of  the  flock,  and  retires  to  some 
corner  of  the  field,  or  under  a  hedge,  in  order  to  prevent  the  other 
cows  or  anything  else  coming  near,  that  ma\^  disturb  her  in  bringing 
forward  her  young." 

If  the  head  be  sufficiently  advanced  to  be  grasped  by  the  hands, 
or  for  a  hand  to  be  introduced  by  the  side  of  it  so  as  to  urge  it 
forward,  an  assistant  at  the  same  laying  hold  of  the  fore-legs,  and 
pulling  with  moderate  force  at  each  of  the  throes  of  the  mother,  the 
little  animal  may  often  be  brought  forward  without  endangering  its 
life.  If,  however,  it  be  firmly  impacted  in  the  passage,  a  cord  with 
a  slip  knot  should  be  fastened  round  each  leg,  immediately  above  the 
fetlock,  and  a  third  cord  around  the  lower  jaw.  Greater  power  may 
then  be  applied,  the  persons  holding  the  cords  pulling  in  concert, 
accommodating  themselves  to  the  natural  pains  of  the  mother,  and 
exerting  their  strength,  although  somewhat  forcibly,  yet  quietly  and 
gradually.  Here  again  the  brutal  violence  resorted  to  by  some  per- 
sons is  much  to  be  reprobated  ;  it  inevitably  destroys  the  calf,  and 
endangers  the  life  of  the  mother.  If  the  foetus  cannot  be  extracted 
by  moderate  force,  one  of  the  shoulders  should  be  slipped  (taken  off,) 
which  may  easily  be  effected  by  means  of  a  small  knife  curved  like 
those  used  for  pruning,  so  as  to  be  easily  introduced  into  the  pass- 
age in  the  hollow  of  the  hand,  and  there  used  without  danger  of 
wounding  the  cow.  An  incision  should  be  made  in  the  fore-arm  of 
the  foetus,  and  the  skin  elevated  and  turned  back  by  means  either  of 
the  knife  or  the  fingers.  The  shoulder  may  then  be  easily  detached 
from  the  body  and  drawn  out  ;  and  the  bulk  of  the  calf  being  thus 
materially  lessened,  the  remainder  of  it  will  be  readily  extracted. 


UNNATURAL  PRESENTATION.  391 


UNNATURAL    PRESENTATION. 

It  will  soon  be  evident  whether  the  calf  is  in  the  right  position. 
The  appearance  of  the  feet  and  the  situation  of  the  head  will  be 
satisfactory  on  this  point ;  but  from  friglit,  or  violence,  or  some  un- 
known cause,  the  position  of  the  foetus  is  sometimes  strangely  altered, 
so  as  to  render  its  extraction  difficult  or  impossible. 

In  some  cases,  although  the  throes  rapidly  succeed  each  other  and 
are  not  deficient  in  power,  nothing,  or  perhaps  only  the  mere  hoofs, 
protrude  from  the  vagina.  This  must  not  be  suflered  long  to  con- 
tinue, for  if  it  does,  the  strength  of  the  cow  will  be  rapidly  wasted. 
The  hand  and  arm,  having  been  well  oiled,  must  be  introduced  into 
the  passage,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  position  of  the  fcetus.  The 
whole  of  the  passage  being  probably  well  occupied  by  the  head  or 
fore-limbs,  and  the  uterus  and  the  vagina  powerfully  contracting,  the 
arm  of  the  operator  will  receive  very  considerable  and  benumbing 
pressure ;  and  sometimes  to  such  an  extent  that  the  perfect  feeling 
of  the  limb  will  not  be  restored  until  some  hours  have  passed.  This 
must  not  be  regarded,  but  the  surgeon  must  steadily,  yet  not  vio- 
lently, push  the  arm  forward,  taking  care  that  he  does  not  wound 
the  cow  with  his  nails. 

If  he  find  the  fore-feet  far  up  the  passage,  and  the  head  between 
them,  but  sunk  down  below  the  bones  of  the  pelvis,  he  will  immedi- 
ately perceive  that  the  extraction  of  the  calf  is  impossible  while  it 
remains  in  this  position.  He  will  therefore  pass  a  cord  with  a  slip- 
knot round  each  of  the  feet,  and  then  push  them  back  into  the  womb. 
Next,  Avith  the  slip-knot  of  a  third  cord  in  his  hand,  he  will  push 
back  the  whole  of  the  foetus  gradual!}^,  but  firmly,  until  he  is  able  to 
get  his  hand  under  the  head  and  elevate  it  and  pass  the  noose  round 
the  lower  jaw :  then,  grasping  the  upper  jaw  and  endeavoring  thus 
to  raise  the  muzzle  above  the  rim  of  the  pelvis,  his  assistants  will 
draw  the  three  cords,  and  easily  bring  the  head  and  the  feet  into  the 
passage  in  the  natural  position. 

If  the  head  be  not  depressed  between  the  feet,  but  bent  down  on 
one  side  below  the  passage,  cords  must  be  put  round  the  fore-feet, 
and  they  are  to  be  returned  as  in  the  other  case.  The  head  is  to  be 
sought  out,  and  a  noose  passed  round  the  jaw,  and  then  the  operator 
putting  his  hand  against  the  chest  of  the  foetus  and  pusliing  it  back, 
his  assistants  are  t(y  gently  draw  the  three  cords,  until  t!ie  head  a-.d 
the  feet  are  properly  placed.  Great  care  should,  however,  he  taken, 
that  in  drawing  out  the  fore-feet  the  womb  is  not  injui-ed  by  the 
hoofs ;  they  should  generally  be  brought  forward  separately,  and 
guarded  by  the  hand  of  the  operator  within  the  womb.  If  there 
should  be  insuperable  difficulty  in  raising  and  bringing  the  head 
round,  and  the  calf  be  d^ad,  the  skin  must  be  turned  back  from  one 
of  the  legs,  beginning  at  the  fore-arm  and  reaching  the  shoulder,  as  t, 


CATTL-r. 


already  described,  and  the  shoulder  detached,  which,  considering  the 
weakness  of  the  muscles  and  ligaments  at  that  age,  will  be  readily 
effected.  The  assistant  then  pulling  steadily  at  the  legs,  and  the 
surgeon  forcing  the  chest  back  into  the  belly,  the  extraction  of  the 
foetus  will  rarely  be  difficult. 

It  may  happen  that  after  many  thoes  no  portion  of  the  foetus  ap- 
pears, but  the  calf  is  found  turned  in  the  womb,  with  his  back  rest- 
ing on  the  belly  of  the  mother,  the  feet  against  the  spine,  the  head 
depressed  below  the  bones  of  the  pelvis,  and  the  poll  pressing  against 
these  bones.  To  turn  the  calf  in  this  position  will  be  difficult,  and 
often  impossible  ;  but,  cords  having  been  fastened,  as  before,  to  the 
feet  and  the  lower  jaw,  the  hand  should  be  introduced  under  the 
head,  so  as  to  raise  it  in  some  measure,  and  enable  the  assistants,  by 
means  of  the  cords,  to  bring  it  and  the  feet  into  the  passage.  If  the 
foetus  should  be  dead,  or  the  life  of  the  mother  appear  to  be  in  dan- 
ger, it  will  be  very  easy,  while  in  this  position,  to  separate  one  or 
both  shoulders,  and  the  head  may  then  be  readily  brought  out. 

It  is  not  uncommon  for  the  tail  alone  to  be  seen  at  the  mouth  of 
the  passage.  This  is  a  breech  presentation,  and  a  very  dangerous 
one.  The  calf  cannot  be  expelled  by  the  natural  throes  of  the 
mother,  the  doubling  of  the  hind-legs  offering  an  insuperable  obstacle  ; 
nor  will  it  be  possible  for  the  foetus  to  be  turned  in  the  womb.  The 
hand  must  be  introduced ;  one  of  the  hocks  searched  out,  and  the 
noose  end  of  a  cord  brought  round  it :  next,  the  free  end  of  the  cord 
must  be  carried  in  and  passed  through  the  noose,  which  is  to  be 
tightened  and  fixed  above  the  hock.  The  operator  must  then  press 
against  the  breech,  forcing  the  calf  backward  and  upward,  while  the 
assistants  draw  the  hock  to  the  commencement  of  the  passage  by 
means  of  the  cords.  The  surgeon  should  then  shift  his  hand  down 
to  the  hoof,  in  order  to  guard  the  uterus,  as  the  foot  is  brought  over 
the  ridge  of  the  pelvis.  The  other  hock  being  afterwards  drawn 
from  under  the  foetus  in  the  same  way,  the  birth  may  be  easily  ac- 
complished. 

The  birth  being  effected,  the  practitioner  should  examine  the 
womb,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  placenta,  and  whether 
there  is  a  second  calf.  The  case  of  twins  will  not  often  give  the 
practitioner  much  trouble,  for  the  calves  are  generally  small  and 
easilv  brought  through  the  passage,  unless  they  should  both  present 
themselves  at  the  same  time  ;  therefore,  at  the*  commencement  of 
every  labor,  the  surgeon  should  carefully  ascertain  whether  the  parts 
presenting  may  not  belong  to  two  distinct  calves ;  in  which  case  one 
must  be  pushed  back  until  the  other  is  delivered,  for  in  the  attempt 
to  extract  them  both  together,  the  mother  and  the  calves  would  in- 
evitably perish. 

FREE-MARTINS. 

The  opmion  has  prevailed  among  breeders  from  time  out  of  date, 


THE  C^SAKIAN  OPERATION. 


that  when  a  cow  produces  two  calves,  one  of  them  a  bull-calf  and 
the  other  a  heifer-calf,  the  male  may  become  a  perfect  and  useful 
bull,  but  the  female  will  be  incapable  of  propagation,  and  will  never 
show  any  desire  for  the  bull.  The  curious  name  of  free-martin  has 
been  given  to  this  animal.  That  accurate  inquirer,  Mr.  John  Hun- 
ter, spared  no  pains  or  expense  to  ascertain  the  real  foundation  of 
this  belief;  and  he  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  of  examining 
three  of  these  free-martins.  In  all  of  them  there  was  a  greater  or 
less  deviation  from  the  external  form  and  appearance  of  the'cow  ; 
and  in  the  head  and  the  horns  some  appi'oach  to  those  of  the  ox  ; 
"while  neither  of  them  had  shown  any  propensity  to  breed.  The  teats 
were  smaller  than  is  usual  in  the  heifer ;  but  the  outward  appear- 
ance of  the  bearing  was  the  same. 

They  were  slaughtered,  and  he  examined  the  internal  structure  of 
the  sexual  parts  :  he  found  in  all  of  them  a  greater  or  less  deviation 
from  the  form  of  the  female,  and  the  addition  of  some  of  the  organs 
peculiar  to  the  male ;  and  he  ascertained  that  they  were  in  fact 
hermaphrodites. 

It  is  not  then  a  mere  vulgar  error  that  the  female  twin  is  barren ; 
On  the  other  hand,  there  are  several  well-authenticated  instances  of 
these  free-martins  having  bred. 

It  would  hence  appear  that  the  rule  is,  and  a  very  singular  anomaly 
in  natural  history  it  is,  that  the  female  twin  is  barren,  because  she  is 
an  hermaphrodite  ;  but  in  some  cases,  there  not  being  this  admixture 
of  the  organs  of  different  sexes,  or  those  of  the  female  pi^vailing,  she 
is  capable  of  breeding.  If  the  free-martin  have  entirely  the  appear- 
ance of  a  cow,  she  will  breed ;  if  she  be  coarse  in  the  horn,  and  ox- 
like,  she  will  be  barren. 

Inhere  have  been  instances  of  the  cow  producing  three  and  even 
four  calves  at  one  birth. 

THE    C^SARIAN    OPERATION. 

Some  practitioners  have  lately  recommended,  in  desperate  cases, 
the  opening  of  the  side  of  the  mother,  and  the  extraction  of  the  calf. 
The  circumstances  must  indeed  be  desperate  which  can  justify  such  a 
procedure.  If,  at  the  very  earliest  period  of  parturition,  the  veteri- 
nary can  ascertain  that  there  is  a  malformation  of  the  pelvis,  which 
will  render  delivery  in  a  manner  impossible,  and  the  breed  is  a  valua- 
ble one,  and  the  mother,  with  this  malformation,  would  never  again 
be  useful  as  a  breedieg  cow,  and  no  violent  attempts  have  been  made 
to  extract  the  foetus — nothing  has  been  done  which  could  set  up 
inflammation,  or  give  a  disposition  to  inflammatory  action  ;  or  if  it 
can  be  clearly  ascertained  that  there  is  a  deformity  in  the  foetus,  an 
enlargement  of  the  head,  or  a  general  bulkiness,  which  will  forbid  its 

•    •  •      1  u 

being  extracted  either  whole  or  piecemeal,  the  practitioner  might  be 
justified  in  attempting  this  serious  operation ;  but  in  a  later  stage  of 
17* 


394  CATTLE. 


the  process,  when  the  usu;il  measures  have  been  adopted — when  the 
parts  have  been  bruised  and  injured,  and  the  animal  lias  been  fatigued 
and  worn  out,  and  the  foetus  itself  probably  has  not  escaped  injury, 
such  an  operation  can  scarcely  be  defended  on  any  principle  of 
Bcienco  or  humanity.  The  writer  of  tliis  work  has  twice  attempted 
the  operation,  but  in  neither  case  did  he  save  either  the  mother  or 
the  calf ;  nor  is  he  aware  of  any  English  veterinarian  who  has  suc- 
ceeded. There  is  an  account  of  one  successful  case  by  M,  Chretien, 
but  it  is  one  only  out  of  the  several  that  he  attempted,  and  he 
attempted  this,  because,  on  examination,  he  found  that  there  was  a 
hard  tumor  in  the  womb,  which  nearly  half  filled  the  cavity  of  the 
pelvis,  and  forbade  the  possibility  of  delivery. 

If  a  similar  impossibility  of  delivery  should  occur  in  the  practice  of 
the  veterinary  surgeon  ;  and  equally  justifying  the  experiment,  the 
operation  must  be  thus  performed.  The  rumen  must  first  be  punc- 
tured at  the  flank,  or  some  of  the  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime 
introduced,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  any  gas  which  it  contains,  and  thus 
to  bring  the  uterus  better  into  view,  and  prevent  as  much  as  possible 
that  pressure  on  it,  and  on  the  intestines,  which  will  usually  cause  a 
troublesome  and  dangerous  protrusion  of  them  as  soon  as  an  incision 
is  made  into  the  belly.  The  animal  is  then  to  be  thiown  on  the  left 
side  and  properly  secured  ;  the  right  hind-leg,  being  detached  from 
the  hobbles,  must  be  brought  as  far  backwards  as  possible,  and  fixed 
to  some  post  or  firm  object,  so  as  to  leave  the  right  flank  as  much 
exposed  as  it  can  be.  Commencing  about  two  inches  before  and  a 
little  below  the  haunch-bone,  an  incision  is  now  to  be  made  through 
the  skin,  six  or  seven  inches  long,  in  a  direction  from  above  down- 
ward, and  from  behind  forward,  and  this  incision  is  afterwards  to  be 
carried  through  the  skin,  and  the  muscular  wall  of  the  flank.  A 
bistoury  being  taken  and  two  fingers  introduced  into  the  wound  in 
order  to  protect  the  intestines,  the  wound  is  to  be  lengthened  five  or 
six  inches  more  over  the  superior  and  middle  part  of  the  uterus. 

At  this  moment,  probably,  a  mass  of  small  intestines  may  protrude  ; 
they  must  be  put  a  little  on  one  side,  or  supported  by  a  cloth,  and 
the  operator  must  quickly  search  for  the  fore-feet  and  head  of  the 
foetus.  An  incision  must  be  made  through  the  uterus,  of  sufficient 
length  to  extract  the  calf,  which  must  be  lifted  from  its  bed,  two 
ligatures  passed  round  the  cord,  the  cord  divided  between  them,  and 
the  young  one,  if  living,  consigned  to  the  care  of  a  stander-by,  to  bo 
conveyed  away  and  taken  care  of.  The  placenta  is  now  to  be  quickly 
yet  gently  detached,  and  taken  away.  The  intestines  are  to  be 
retui-ned  to  their  natural  situation,  the  divided  edges  of  the  uterus 
brought  together  and  retained  by  means  of  two  or  three  sutures,  the 
efiused  blood  sponged  out  from  the  abdomen,  and  the  muscular 
parietes  likewise  held  together  by  sutures,  and  other  sutures  passed 
through  the  integuments.     Dry  soft  lint  is  then  to  be  placed  over  the 


INVERSION  OF  THE  WOMB.  395 


incision,  and  retained   on  it  by  means  of  proper  bandages,  and  the 
case  treated  as  consisting  of  a  serious  wound. 

EMBRYOTOMY. 

In  cases  of  malformation  of  the  calf,  or  when,  as  now  and  then 
happens,  the  powers  of  nature  seem  to  be  suddenly  exhausted,  and 
no  stimulus  can  rouse  the  womb  again  to  action,  the  destruction  of 
the  foetus,  should  it  still  live,  and  the  removal  of  it  piecemeal,  is  a  far 
more  humane  method  of  proceeding,  and  much  oftener  successful. 
All  that  will  be  necessary  will  be  a  very  small  kind  of  pruning  knife, 
already  described,  with  the  blade  even  a  little  more  curved  than 
those  knives  generally  are,  and  that  can  be  carried  into  the  passage 
in  the  hollow  of  the  hand  with  scarcely  the  possibility  of  woundino- 
the  cow.  A  case  related  by  M.  Thibeaudeau  will  best  illustrate  this 
operation.  "  I  amputated  the  left  shoulder  of  the  foetus,  in  spite  of 
the  difficulties  which  tlie  position  of  the  head  and  neck  presented. 
Having  withdrawn  this  limb,  I  made  an  incision  through  all  the  car- 
tilages of  the  ribs,  and  laid  open  the  chest  through  its  whole  extent, 
by  means  of  which  I  was  enabled  to  extract  all  the  thoracic  viscera. 
Thus  having  lessened  the  size  of  the  calf,  I  was  enabled,  by  pulling 
at  the  remaining  fore-leg,  to  extract  the  foetus  without  much  resist- 
ance, although  the  head  and  neck  were  still  bent  upon  the  chest. 
The  afterbirth  was  removed  immediately  afterwards.  A  cow  the 
neck  of  whose  uterus  was  so  constricted  that  the. finger  could  scarcely 
be  introduced ;  I  divided  the  stricture,  and  saved  both  cow  and  calf." 

INVERSION    OF    THE    WOMB. 

In  the  convulsive  efforts  in  order  to  accomplish  the  expulsion  of 
the  foetus,  the  womb  itself  sometimes  closely  follows  the  calf,  and 
hangs  from  the  bearing,  as  low  as  or  lower  than  the  hocks,  in  the 
form  of  a  large  red  or  violet-colored  bag.  This  is  called  "  the  down- 
fall of  the  calf-bag^  It  should  be  returned  as  soon  as  possible,  for 
there  is  usually  great  pressure  on  the  neck  of  the  womb,  which 
imjiedes  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  and  the  protruded  part  quickly 
grows  livid  and  black,  and  is  covered  with  ulcerated  spots,  and 
becomes  gangrenous  and  mortified ;  and  this  is  rapidly  increased  by 
the  injury  which  the  womb  sustains  in  the  continual  getting  up  and 
lying  down  of  the  cow  in  these  ceases. 

The  womb  must  first  be  cleansed  from  all  the  dirt  which  it  may 
have  gathered,  If  much  swelling  has  taken  place,  and  the  bag  looks 
thickened  and  gorged  with  blood,  it  should  be  liglitly  yet  freely 
scarified,  and  the  bleeding  encouraged  by  warm  fomentations.  While 
this  is  done,  it  should  be  carefully  ascertained  whether  there  is  any 
distension  of  the  rurnen,  and  if  there  is,  either  the  common  puncturo 
for  hoove  should  be  made  in  the  flank,  or  a  dose  of  the  solution  of  tho 


CATTLE. 


chloride  of  lime  adminstered.  A  distended  rumen  would  form  an 
almost  insuperable  obstacle  to  the  return  of  the  uterus.  Two  persons 
should  now  support  the  calf-bag  by  means  of  a  strong  yet  soft  cloth, 
while,  if  the  placenta  yet  remains  attached  to  it,  a  third  person  gently 
separates  it  at  every  point.  It  would  be  useless  to  attempt  to  return 
the  womb  until  the  cleap«ing  is  taken  away,  for  the  labor  pains 
would  return  as  violently  as  before.  The  operator  will  carefully 
remove  the  little  collections,  or  bundles  of  blood-vessels,  which  belong 
to  the  foetal  portion  of  the  placenta,  and  which  are  implanted  into 
the  fleshy  excrescences,  that,  for  some  reason,  never  yet  fully  ex- 
plained, grow  upon  the  surface  of  the  impregnated  womb,  and  grad- 
ually disappear  again  after  the  birth  of  the  calf.  If  much  bleeding 
attend  this  process,  the  parts  are  to  be  washed  with  a  weak  mixture 
of  spirit  and  water.  The  bleeding  being  a  little  stayed,  and  every 
thing  that  may  have  gathered  round  the  calf-bag  being  removed,  the 
assistants  should  raise  the  cloth,  and  bring  the  womb  on  a  level  with 
the  bearing  ;  while  the  surgeon,  standing  behind,  and  having  his 
hand  and  arm  w^ell  oiled,  and  a  little  oil  having  been  likewise  smeared 
over  the  womb  generally,  places  his  right  hand,  with  the  fingers  bent 
or  clenched,  against  the  bottom — the  very  inferior  and  farther  part 
of  that  division  or  horn  of  the  uterus  which  contained  the  foetus,  and 
forces  it  through  the  passage,  and  as  far  as  he  can  into  the  belly  ;  and 
there  he  retains  it,  while,  with  the  other  hand,  he  endeavors  likewise 
to  force  up  the  smaller  horn,  and  the  mouth  of  the  womb.  He  will 
find  considerable  difficulty  in  effecting  this,  for  the  strciinings  against 
him  will  often  be  immense,  and  sometimes,  when  he  thinks  he  has 
attained  his  object,  the  whole  will  again  be  suddenly  and  violently 
expelled.  A  bleeding  from  the  jugular,  and  the  administration  of  a 
couple  of  drachms  of  opium,  Avill  materially  lessen  these  spasmodic 
efforts.  The  surgeon  must,  in  spite  of  fatigue,  patiently  persist  in  his 
labor  until  his  object  is  accomplished  ;  and  he  will  be  materially 
assisted  in  this  by  having  the  cow  either  standing,  or  so  placed  on 
straw  that  her  hinder  parts  shall  be  considerably  elevated. 

The  practitioner  should  be  careful  that  the  parts  are  returned  as 
nearly  as  possible  into  their  natural  situation,  and  this  he  will  easily 
ascertain  by  examination  with  the  hand.  Much  of  the  after  quietness 
of  the  animal,  and  the  etention  of  the  womb  thus  returned,  will 
depend  upon  this. 

Although  the  return  of  the  parts  to  their  natural  situation  may  be 
tolerably  clearly  ascertained,  yet  it  will  be  prudent  to  provide  against 
a  fresh  access  of  pain  and  another  expulsion  of  the  uterus.  For  this 
purpose  it  had  been  usual  to  pass  three  or  four  stitches  of  small  tape 
through  the  lips  of  the  bearing  ;  but  this  is  a  painful  thing,  and  some- 
times difficult  to  accomplish ;  and  the  cases  are  not  unfrequent  wheq 
these  stitches  are  torn  out,  and  considerable  laceration  and  iuflaiij' 
mation  ensue. 


RUPTURE  OF  THE  UTERUS.  897 

A  collar  should  be  passed  round  the  neck  of  the  cow,  composed  of 
web  :  a  girth  of  the  same  material  is  then  put  round  the  body  behind 
the  shoulders,  and  this  is  connected  with  the  collar,  under  the  brisket 
and  over  the  shoulder,  and  on  each  side.  A  second  girth  is  passed 
behind  the  first,  and  a  little  anterior  to  the  udder,  and  connected  with 
the  first  in  the  same  way.  To  this,  on  one  side,  and  level  with  the 
bearing,  a  piece  of  stout  wrapping  cloth  or  other  strong  material, 
twelve  or  sixteen  inches  wide,  is  sewed  or  fastened,  and  brought  over 
the  bearing,  and  attached  to  the  girth  on  the  other  side  in  the  same 
manner.  A  knot  on  each  side  will  constitute  the  simplest  fastening, 
and  this  pressing  firmly  on  the  bearing  will  effectually  prevent  the 
womb  from  again  protruding.  If  it  should  be  necessary,  another 
piece  may  be  carried  from  below  the  bearing  over  the  udder  to  the 
second  girth,  and  a  corresponding  one,  slit  in  order  to  pass  on  each 
side  of  the  tail,  may  reach  from  above  the  bearing  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  second  bandage. 

The  cow  should  be  kept  as  quiet  as  possible ;  warm  mashes  and 
warm  gruel  should  be  allowed ;  bleeding  should  again  be  resorted  to, 
and  small  doses  of  opium  administered  if  she  should  be  restless,  or 
the  pains  should  return  ;  but  it  will  not  be  prudent  during  the  first 
day  to  give  either  those  fever  medicines,  as  nitre  and  digitalis,  which 
may  have  a  diuretic  effect  and  excite  the  urinary  organs,  or  to  bring 
on  the  straining  effect  of  purging,  by  administering  even  a  dose  of 
saline  medicine.  Should  tweuty-four  hours  pass  and  the  pains  not 
i-eturn,  the  stitches  may  be  withdrawn  from  the  bearing,  or  the  ban- 
dage removed. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  operation,  returning  the  womb,  be- 
ing concluded,  administer  arnica  internally,  and  throw  up  injections 
of  arnica  water,  which  are  very  advisable,  more  especially  when  the 
accident  has  been  occasioned  by  difficult  parturition,  or  when  the 
extractions  of  the  after-birth  have  injured  the  womb.  When  there 
is  fever,  and  an  inflammatory  state,  administer  forthwith  a  couple  of 
doses  of  aconitum.  If  the  accident  have  been  produced  by  great 
efforts  in  parturition,  we  must  have  recourse  to  sepia  and  to  platina  ; 
and,  if  it  make  its  appearance  a  little  after  calving,  especially  when 
the  mother  is  lying  down,  benefit  will  be  derived  from  chiiia  (two 
doses  each  day).  Pulsatilla  and  sepia  are  specifics  when  the  fall  of 
the  womb  has  been  occasioned  by  efforts  made  to  expel  the  placenta ; 
if  the  anus  has  become  depressed,  cocculus  would  appear  more  par- 
ticularly useful. 

RUPTURE    OF    THE    UTERUS. 

Another  more  serious  evil  sometimes  accompanies  inversions  of  the 
womb,  namely,  a  laceration  or  rupture  of  that  organ,  effected  either 
by  the  unusually  strong  contraction  of  the  womb,  or  by  the  violence 
with  which  the  feet  of  the  calf  are  drawn  forward  in  the  unskillful  treat- 


CATTLE. 


ment  of  false  presentation,  or  by  the  general  concussion  which 
accompanies  the  expulsion  of  tko  womb.  The  laceration  is  some- 
times a  foot  in  length,  and  is  generally  found  on  one  side,  and  not 
far  from  the  bottom  of  the  uterus. 

The  animal  needs  not  to  be  abandoned  even  in  such  a  case,  al- 
though there  will  be  considerably  more  difficulty  in  returning  the 
womb,  because  the  same  pressure  cannot  be  made  with  the  doubled 
hand  on  the  bottom  of  it,  and  that  difficulty  may  be  increased  by 
the  furious  state  of  the  beast  suffering  much  intensity  of  pain,  and 
the  whole  frame  disordered  by  such  an  accident.  No  time  should 
be  lost  in  vain  efforts  to  bring  the  lacerated  parts  together  and  se- 
cure them  by  stitches  ;  but,  the  womb  having  been  well  cleaned,  the 
placenta  removed,  and  the  bleeding  somewhat  stayed,  it  must  be 
returned  as  well  and  as  speedily  as  can  be  managed,  and  the  band- 
age applied,  or  the  lips  of  the  bearing  secured  by  stitches :  the 
cow  should  then  be  bled,  and  opiates  administered.  Nature  will 
often  do  wonders  here — the  mischief  wiL  be  repaired — the  uterus 
will  become  whole  again,  and  that  without  a  tenth  part  of  the  fever 
that  might  be  expected  ;  and  there  are  instances  upon  record  in 
which  the  cow  has  suckled  her  calf,  and  produced  another  a  twelve- 
month afterwards. 

Rupture  of  the  uterus  may  occur  without  protrusion  of  the  part, 
from  the  too  powerful  action  of  that  organ.  The  symptoms  are 
obscure — they  have  not  yet  been  sufficiently  observed.  They  would 
probably  be  gradual  ceasing  of  the  labor  pains — coldness  of  the 
horns  and  ears  and  mouth — paleness  of  the  mouth — a  small  and 
accelerated  pulse — swelling  of  the  belly,  and  the  discharge  of  bloody, 
glairy,  fetid  matter  from  the  shape.  Nothing  can  be  done  in  such 
a  case. 

Homoeopathic  treatment — This  will  be  the  same  as  for  mere  inver- 
sion of  the  womb. 

PROTRUSION  OF  THE  BLADDER. 

In  long  protracted  labor,  accompanied  by  pains  unusually  violent, 
the  bladder  has  protruded.  If  the  calf  be  not  already  born,  it  must 
be  extricated  as  quickly  as  the  case  will  admit,  and  that  without 
Bcrupulous  regard  to  the  safety  of  the  cow  ;  for  the  protruded  blad- 
der can  never  be  returned  to  its  natural  situation — in  consequence  of 
pain  and  inconvenience,  the  animal  can  never  afterwards  carry  high 
condition,  but  will  be  a  miserable  and  disgusting  object  as  long  as 
she  lives. 

RETENTION   OF  THE  FCETUS. 

It  may  happen  that  the  Trains  of  parturition  gradually  abate,  and 
at  length  cease.  If  the  cow  has  been  much  exhausted  or  injured  by 
the  continuance  of  the  labor  or  the  efforts  made  to  relieve  her,  and 


ATTENTION  AFTER  CALVING. 


the  foetus  has  been  wounded  or  broken,  and  considerable  inflammation 
and  fever  have  been  set  up,  she  will  probably  die :  but  if  she  is  no 
more  exhausted  than  may  be  naturally  expected,  and  the  fever  is 
dight,  and  she  eats  a  little,  she  should  not  be  abandoned. 

Mr.  King  relates  an  instructive  case  of  this  kind : — A  few  years 
ago  I  was  called  to  see  a  heifer  which  appeared  to  be  rather  losing 
condition,  and  which  had  been  observed  occasionally  to  void  some 
oflfensive  matter  from  the  vagina.  Before  I  could  get  to  her,  some 
portion  of  a  calf's  fore -extremity  came  away.  The  owner  was  very  ap- 
prehensive of  her  not  doing  well,  and  earnestly  pressed  the  extraction 
of  the  remainder  of  the  foetus.  On  examination,  I  found  the  os  uteri 
so  small  and  contracted,  that  I  could  not  pass  my  hand  ;  and  as  the 
beast  ate  and  drank,  and  was  so  little,  either  locally  or  constitution- 
ally, disturbed,  I  persuaded  him  to  leave  her  to  nature,  watching  her 
in  case  of  assistance  being  required.  He  consented,  and,  by  degrees, 
and  in  detached  portions,  the  greater  part,  or  perhaps  the  whole  of 
the  calf  (she  was  not  confined)  came  away,  and  she  did  well,  and 
became  fat. 

The  same  gentleman  relates  another  case  :  A  cow,  healthy,  fine, 
and  fat,  was  slaughtered.  The  uterus  was  found  to  contain  the  skel- 
eton of  a  calf  almost  entire,  all  the  soft  parts  having  separated,  and 
wholly  escaped.  Nothing  of  her  history  was  known.  There  is  an 
instance  on  record  of  the  head  of  a  calf  (all  the  other  parts  having 
passed  away  unobserved)  being  retained  in  the  womb  eighteen 
months.  Pains  resembling  those  of  parturition  then  came  on.  The 
veterinary  surgeon,  on  examination,  detected  a  hard  round  body 
which  he  mistook  for  a  calculus,  and  which  was  so  firmly  imbedded 
in  the  womb  that  he  was  compelled  to  have  recourse  to  a  bistoury 
in  order  to  detatch  it.     In  a  fortnight  she  seemed  to  be  well. 

ATTENTION    AFTER    CALVING. 

Parturition  having  been  accomplished,  the  cow  should  be  left 
quietly  with  the  calf ;  the  licking  and  cleaning  of  which,  if  it  be  soon 
discharged,  will  employ  and  amuse  her.  It  is  a  cruel  thing  to  sep- 
arate the  mother  from  the  young  so  soon ;  the  cow  will  pine,  and 
will  be  deprived  of  that  medicine  which  nature  designed  for  her  in 
the  moisture  which  hangs  about  the  calf ;  and  the  calf  will  lose  that 
gentle  friction  and  motion  which  helps  to  give  it  the  immediate  use 
of  all  its  limbs,  and  which  increases  the  languid  circulation  of  the 
61ood,  and  produces  a  genial  warmth  in  the  half  exhausted  and  chill- 
ed little  animal.  A  warm  mash  should  be  put  before  her,  and  warm 
gruel,  or  water  from  which  some  of  the  coldness  has  been  taken  off. 
Two  or  three  hours  afterwards  it  will  be  prudent  to  give  an  aperient 
drink  consisting  of  a  pound  of  Epsom  salts  and  two  drachms  of  gin- 
ger. This  may  tend  to  prevent  milk  fever  and  garget  in  the  udder. 
Attention  shoul  i  likewise  be  paid  to  the  state  of  the  udder.     If  the 


400  CATTLE. 


teats  are  sore,  and  the  bag  generally  hard  and  tender,  she  should 
be  gently  but  carefully  milked  three  or  four  times  every  day. 
The  natural  and  the  effective  preventive  of  this,  however,  is  to  let 
the  calf  suck  her  at  least  three  times  a  day  if  it  be  tied  up  in  the  cow- 
house, or  to  run  with  her  to  the  pasture,  and  take  the  teat  when 
it  pleases.  The  tendency  to  inflammation  of  the  udder  is  much 
diminished  by  the  calf  frequently  sucking ;  or  should  the  cow  be 
feverish,  nothing  soothes  or  quiets  her  so  much  as  the  presence  of 
the  little  one. 

THE    CLEANSING. 

The  placenta,  or  after-hirth,  or  cleansing,  should  be  discharged 
soon  after  the  calving.  It  soon  begins  to  act  upon  the  uterus  as  a 
foreign  body,  producing  irritation  and  fever :  it  likewise  rapidly  be- 
comes putrid  and  noisome,  and  if  it  be  then  retained  long,  it  is  either 
an  indication  of  the  weakly  state  of  the  cow,  or  it  may  produce  a 
certain  degree  of  low  fever  that  will  interfere  with  he*'  condition. 
Every  cow-leech,  therefore,  has  his  cleansing  diink  ready  to  admin- 
ister ;  but  it  is  too  often  composed  of  stimulating  and  injurious 
drugs,  and  which  lay  the  foundation  for  after  disease.  The  aperient 
drink  recommended  to  be  given  after  calving,  with  the  addition  of 
half  a  pint  of  good  ale  to  it,  will  be  the  best  assistant  in  this  case, 
and  I  he  only  thing  that  should  be  allowed. 

Should  the  cleansing  continue  to  be  retained,  some  have  recom- 
mended that  a  weight  of  six  or  eicrht  ounces  should  be  tied  to  the 
cord,  the  gentle  and  continual  action  of  which  will  u-ually  separate 
the  placenta  from  its  "adhesions,  without  any  risk  of  haemorrhage  : 
but  if  the  after-birth  should  still  remain  in  the  womb,  and  decompo- 
sition should  evidently  commence,  the  hand  must  be  introduced  into 
the  passage,  and  the  separation  accomplished  as  gently  as  possible. 

There  is,  however,  a  great  deal  more  fear  about  this  retention  of 
the  after-birth  than  there  needs  to  be,  and  it  is  only  the  actual  ap- 
pearance of  inconvenience  or  disease  resulting  from  it  that  would 
justify  a  mechanical  attempt  to  extract  it.  It  is  occasionally  retained 
seven  or  eight  days,  without  any  dangerous  consequence. 

Homoeopathic  treatment.. — The  after-birth  does  not  always  come 
away  immediately ;  it  sometimes  remains  either  entirely  or  in  part 
in  the  womb,  a  circumstance  which  might  bring  on  fatal  consequen- 
ces. The  means  to  be  employed  in  such  a  case  have  been  already 
mentioned  under  the  head  abortion.  Experience  has  ascertained 
the  efficacy  of  several  other  remedies  for  the  anamolies  which  may 
occur  (luring  the  act  of  parturition ;  chamomilla,  pulsatilla,  and 
cannabis,  when  the  cow  does  not  lie  down,  when  she  is  restless,  and 
the  pains  properly  so  called  are  not  sufficiently  marked  ;  secule  cor- 
nutum,  in  case  of  convulsions  and  excessive  straining ;  pulsatilla, 
when  the  pains  are  too  slight  to  advance  the  labor ;  opium  in  case 


MILK  FEVER— DROPPIN  G  AFTER  CALVING.  401 

of  complete  atony.  Aconitum  and  chamomilla  are  useful  when  the 
milk  is  slow  in  making  its  appearance  ;  arnica,  when  the  labor  has 
caused  the  animal  to  suffer  much  ;  and  nux  vomica,  when  the  lum- 
bar region  afterwards  appeared  much  weakened. 

BLEEDING    (fLOODING)    FROM    THE    WOMB. 

This,  although  rarely,  may  follow  natural  parturition.  It  is  oftener 
seen  when  the  uterus  has  been  wounded  in  the  forcible  extraction  of 
the  calf,  and  it  still  more  frequently  follows  the  long  retention  and 
mechanical  separation  of  the  after-birth.  The  application  of  cold  to 
the  loins  will  be  most  serviceable  in  this  case.  A  pound  of  nitre 
should  be  dissolved  in  a  gallon  of  water,  and  the  loins  and  bearing  of 
the  cow  kept  constantly  wet  by  means  of  cloths  dipped  in  the  solution. 
The  water  yielded  by  the  melting  of  ice  mixed  with  salt  may  be 
used,  being  colder,  and  therefore  more  effectual.  The  cow  may 
drink  cold  water,  and  in  any  quantity  that  she  may  be  inclined  to 
take,  and  large  doses  of  opium  (two  drachms  every  second  hour) 
should  be  administered.  The  hinder  parts  of  the  cow  should  be  ele- 
vated, in  order  that  the  blood  may  be  retained  in  the  womb,  and 
coagulate  there.  She  should  be  kept  perfectly  quiet,  and  the  calf 
not  permitted  to  suck.  There  are  few  haemorrhages  from  the  womb, 
except  those  produced  by  absolute  rupture  of  it,  which  will  not 
yield  to  this  treatment. 

Homceopathic  treatment. — Give  arnica  internally  ;  throw  injections 
of  arnica  water  into  the  womb,  and  give  china  to  combat  debiUty 
from  loss  of  blood. 

MILK  (puerperal)  FEVER DROPPING  AFTER  CALVING. 

Although  parturition  is  a  natural  process,  it  is  accompanied  by  a 
great  deal  of  febrile  excitement.  The  sudden  transferring  of  pow- 
erful and  accumulated  action  from  one  organ  to  another — from  the 
womb  to  the  udder — must  cause  a  great  deal  of  constitutional  dis- 
turbance, as  well  as  liability  to  local  inflammation. 

The  cow,  after  parturition,  is  subject  to  inflammation  of  some  of 
the  parts  the  functions  of  which  are  thus  changed :  it  is  mere  local 
mflammation  at  first,  but  the  system  speedily  sympathizes,  and  pu- 
erpeal  fever  appears.  It  is  called  dropping  after  calving,  because  it 
follows  that  process,  and  one  of  the  prominent  symptoms  of  the  com- 
plaint is  the  loss  of  power  over  the  motion  of  the  hind  limbs,  and 
consequent  inability  to  stand.  In  a  great  number  of  cases,  loss  of 
feeling  accompanies  that  of  voluntary  motion  ;  and  no  sense  of  pain 
is  evinced,  although  the  cow  is  deeply  pricked  in  her  hind  limbs. 

There  are  few  diseases  which  the  farmer  dreads  more,  and  that 
for  two  reasons ;  the  first  is,  that  the  animal  now  labors  under  a 
high  degree  of  excitement,  and  every  local  inflamraf.tion,  and  par- 
ticularly near  the  parts  in  which  the  sudden  change  of  circulation 


402  CATTLE. 


and  of  function  has  taken  place,  assumes  a  peculiar  character,  and 
an  intensity,  obstinacy,  and  fatality,  unknown  at  other  times:  the 
second  reason  is,  that  from  his  inattention  to  the  animal,  or  his 
i£(norance  of  the  real  nature  of  the  disease  of  cattle,  he  does  not 
recognize  this  malady  until  its  first  and  manageable  state,  that  of 
fever,  has  passed,  and  the  strength  of  the  constitution  has  been  un- 
dermined, and  helpless  debility  has  followed.  The  first  symptom 
which  he  observes,  or  which  the  practitioner  has  generally  the  op- 
portunity to  observe,  is  the  prostration  of  strength  which  violent 
fever  always  leaves  behind  it.  The  early  deviations  from  health  are 
unobserved  by  the  farmer,  and  probably  would  not  always  attract 
the  attention  of  the  surgeon. 

'i'his  disease  is  primarily  infiararaation  of  the  womb,  or  of  the 
peritoneum,  but  it  afterwards  assumes  an  intensity  of  character  truly 
specific.  The  aflfection  is  originally  that  of  some  peculiar  viscus, 
but  it  soon  is  lost  in  a  peculiar  general  inflammatory  state,  as  rapid 
in  its  progress  as  it  is  violent  in  its  nature,  and  speedily  followed 
by  a  prostration  of  vital  power  that  often  bids  defiance  to  every 
stimulus. 

Cows  in  high  condition  are  most  subject  to  an  attack  of  puerperal 
fever.  Their  excess  of  condition  or  state  of  plethora  disposes  them 
to  affections  of  an  inflammatory  character  at  all  times,  and  more 
particularly  when  the  constitution  labors  under  the  excitement  ac- 
companying parturition.  The  poorest  and  most  miserable  cattle  have, 
however,  sometimes  had  milk  fever  after  calving  ;  and  they  have 
particularly  done  so  when,  on  account  of  the  approach  of  this  period, 
they  have  been  moved  from  scanty  to  luxuriant  pasture,  or  from  low 
keep  to  high  stall  feeding.  Milk  fever  happens  to  cows  that  are  very 
fresh  and  fat,  and  particularly  to  those  that  calve  far  on  the  season 
in  hot  weather  ;  but  cows  that  are  too  fat  often  drop  after  calving  in 
the  winter  ;  and  it  is  observed  that  the  cases  that  occur  in  the  win- 
ter will  frequently  recover,  while  the  animals  that  are  thus  attacked 
in  hot  weather  too  generally  die. 

A  cow  is  comparatively  seldom  attacked  with  milk  fever  a'",  hei 
first  calving,  because  in  the  present  system  of  breeding  she  has  sel- 
dom attained  her  full  growth,  and  therefore  the  additional  nutriment 
goes  to  increase  of  size  instead  of  becoming  the  foundation  of  dis- 
ease. Cases,  however,  do  occur,  in  which  cows  of  three  years  old 
have  been  speedily  carried  off  by  this  complaint,  but  then  they  had 
been  most  injudiciously  exposed  to  the  forcing  system. 

Much  depends  on  the  quantity  of  milk  which  the  cow  is  accus- 
tomed to  yield  ;  and  great  milkers,  although  they  are  not  often  in 
high  condition,  are  very  subject  to  this  affection.  All  cows  have  a 
slight  degree  of  fever  at  this  time ;  a  very  little  addition  to  that 
will  materially  interfere  with  the  secretion  of  milk,  and,  perhaps, 
arrest  it  altogether ;  and  the  throwing  back  upon  the  system  the 


MILK  FEVER— DROPPING  AFTER  CALVING.  403 

quantity  of  milk  which  some  of  them  are  disposed  to  give,  must 
strangely  add  fuel  to  the  fire,  and  kindle  a  flame  by  which  the  pow- 
ers of  nature  are  speedily  consumed.  Whether  the  present  improved 
method  of  selection,  whereby  the  properties  of  grazing  and  giving 
milk  are  united  in  the  same  animal,  will  increase  the  tendency  to 
inflammation,  and  particularly  to  this  dangerous  species  of  fever,  is 
a  question  deserving  of  consideration. 

Puerperal  fever  sometimes  appears  as  early  as  two  houi's  after 
parturition ;  if  four  or  five  days  have  passed,  the  animal  may  gene- 
rally be  considered  as  safe :  yet  a  fortnight  has  elapsed  between 
the  calving  and  the  fever. 

The  early  symptoms  of  fever  are  evidently  those  of  a  febrile 
character.  The  animal  is  restless,  shifting  her  feet,  pawing,  and  she 
heaves  laboriously  at  the  flanks.  The  muzzle  is  dry  and  hot,  the 
mouth  open  and  the  tongue  protruded.  The  countenance  is  wild, 
and  the  eyes  staring.  She  wanders  about  mournfully  lowing ;  she 
becomes  irritable  ;  she  butts  at  a  stranger,  and  sometimes  even  at 
the  herdsman.  Delirium  follows  ;  she  grates  her  teeth,  foams  at 
the  mouth,  throws  her  head  violently  about,  and,  not  unfrequently, 
breaks  her  horns.  The  udder  becomes  enlarged,  and  hot,  and  ten- 
der, at  the  very  commencement  of  the  disease.  This  is  always  to 
be  regarded  as  a  suspicious  circumstance  in  a  cow  at  that  time ;  and 
if  this  swelling  and  inflammation  be  accompanied,  as  they  almost 
uniformlv  are,  bv  a  partial  or  total  suspension  of  the  milk,  that  which 
is  about  to  happen  is  plain  enough. 

The  disease  is  an  inflammatory  one,  and  must  be  treated  as  such, 
and  being  thus  treated,  it  is  generally  subdued  without  difficulty. 
The  animal  should  be  bled,  and  the  quantity  of  blood  withdiawn 
should  be  regulated  by  that  standard  so  often  leferred  to — that  rule 
without  an  exception — the  impression  made  upon  the  circulation. 
From  six  to  ten  quarts  will  probably  be  taken  away,  depending  upon 
the  age  and  size  of  the  animal,  before  the  desired  effect  is  produced. 
There  is  no  maladv  which  more  satisfactorily  illustrates  the  neces- 
sity of  endeavoring  to  subdue  as  quickly  as  possible  every  inflamma- 
tory complaint  of  cattle  by  the  free  use  of  the  lancet ;  for  all  of 
them  run  their  course  with  a  rapidity  which  a  person  unaccustomed 
to  these  animals,  and  which  the  human  practitioner,  especially,  would 
scarcely  deem  to  be  possible.  To-day  the  cow  is  seen  with  the 
symptoms  just  described — she  is  bled,  and  she  is  relieved  ;  or  she  is 
neglected,  and  the  fever  has  sapped  the  strength  of  the  constitution, 
and  left  a  fearful  debility  behind.  The  small  bleedings  to  which 
some  have  recourse  are  worse  than  inefficient,  for  they  only  increase  the 
natural  tendency  of  these  maladie.^,  to  take  on  a  low  and  fatal  form. 

A  pound  or  a  pound  and  a  half  of  Epsom  salts,  dependent  on  the 
size  of  the  beast,  must  next  be  administered,  with  half  the  usual 
quantity  of  aromatic  ingredients;  and  half-pound  doses  of  the  same 


404  CATTLE. 


must  be  repeated  every  six  hours.  Should  not  the  medicine  soon 
begin  to  act,  the  usual  quantity  of  aromatic  medicine  must  be 
doubled,  for  in  addition  to  the  constipation  usually  attending  fever, 
there  is  that  which  arises  from  the  occasional  state  of  the  rumen, 
and  the  passage  leading  to  it,  and  that  insensible  stomach  must  be 
roused  to  action  and  excited  to  discharge  its  contents,  in  despite  of 
the  stimulating  influence  of  the  spice  on  the  constitution  generally. 
The  bowels  must  he  opened,  or  the  disease  will  run  its  course  ;  and, 
purging  once  established  in  an  early  stage,  the  fever  will,  in  the 
majority  of  instances,  rapidly  subside,  leaving  the  strength  of  the 
constitution  untouched. 

After  the  physic  has  begun  to  operate,  the  usual  sedative  medi- 
cines should,  if  necessary,  be  given. 

The  digestive  function  first  of  all  fails  when  the  secondary  and 
low  state  of  fever  comes  on.  The  rumen  ceases  to  discharge  its 
food,  and  that  being  retained,  begins  to  ferment,  and  the  paunch  and 
the  intestines  are  inflated  with  fetid  gas,  and  the  belly  of  the  ani- 
mal swells  rapidly. 

Next,  the  nervous  system  is  attacked — the  cow  begins  to  stagger. 
The  weakness  is  principally  referable  to  the  hinder  quarters,  and 
rapidly  increases.  She  reels  about  for  a  while,  and  then  falls ;  she 
gets  up,  falls  again,  and  at  length  is  unable  to  rise  ;  her  head  is 
bent  back  toward  her  side,  and  all  her  limbs  are  palsied  ;  and  now, 
when  in  too  many  cases  no  good  can  be  done,  the  proprietor,  for 
the  first  time,  begins  to  be  alarmed. 

The  duration  of  this  second  stage  of  puerperal  fever  is  uncertain  ; 
but  although  it  is  usually  more  protracted  than  the  first,  the  period 
in  which  hope  may  be  reasonably  encouraged  is  short  indeed.  If  the 
cow  be  seriously  ill,  and  oft"  her  feed,  and  does  not  get  up  again  in 
two  or  three  days,  the  chances  are  *very  much  against  her ;  the 
author,  however,  knew  one  that  was  saved  after  she  had  suffered 
considerable  fever,  and  had  been  down  nine  days ;  and  where  de- 
bility is  the  principal  symptom,  and  the  cow  seems  to  lie  tolerably 
comfortable,  and  without  pain,  and  picks  a  little,  she  may  occasionally 
get  up  after  she  has  been  down  even  longer  than  that. 

The  treatment  of  this  stage  of  the  disease,  although  there  has  been 
a  great  deal  of  dispute  about  it,  depends  on  one  simple  principle — • 
the  existence  and  the  deorree  of  fever.  Notwithstandinor  there  is  de- 
bility,  there  may  be  fever  ;  although  the  strength  of  the  constitution 
may  have  been  to  a  great  degree  wasted,  there  may  be  still  a 
smothered  fire  that  will  presently  break  out  afresh.  In  another  point 
of  view,  much  of  this  apparent  weakness  may  be  deceptive  ;  it  may 
be  the  result  of  oppression  anci  venous  congestion,  and  not  of  ex- 
haustion. 

The  pulse  will  be  the  guide,  and  should  be  carefully  consulted.  Is 
it  weak,  wavering,  irregular,  dying  away,  pausing  a  beat  or  two,  and 


MILK  FEVER— DROPPING  AFTER  CALVING.  '105 


then  weakly  creeping  on  again  ?  We  must  not  bleed  here.  These 
are  indications  of  debility  that  cannot  be  mistaken — nature  wants  to 
be  supported,  stimulated,  not  still  further  weakened.  The  abstraction 
of  blood  would  kill  at  once. 

Is  the  pulse  small,  but  regular,  hard,  wiry,  and  quickened — or  is 
it  full  and  quickened  ?  Blood  should  certainly  be  taken  away.  These 
are  as  plain  indications  of  secret  and  destructive  fire  as  can  possibly 
be  given.  The  practitioner  should  bleed,  but  with  the  finger  on  the 
pulse,  anxiously  watching  the  effect  produced,  and  stopping  at  the 
first  taker  of  the  heart.  Many  a  beast  has  been  decidedly  saved  by 
this  kmd  of  bleeding  in  puerperal  fever ;  and  many  have  been 
lost  through  neglect  of  bleeding.  Some  may  have  perished  when 
the  bleeding  was  carried  too  far,  and  some,  if  the  animals  were 
bled  when  the  pulse  gave  indications  of  debility,  but  ncne  when  the 
pulse  indicated  power,  and  the  possibility  of  febrile  action. 

The  propriety  and  impropriety  of  the  abstraction  of  blood  depends 
on  the  state  of  the  pulse  and  the  degree  of  fever — circumstances 
which  vary  in  every  case,  and  in  different  stages  of  the  same  case, 
and  which  accurate  observation  alone  can  determine. 

Next,  in  order  of  time,  and  first  of  all  in  importance  in  this  stage 
of  the  disease,  stands  physic.  The  bowels  must  be  opened,  other- 
wise the  animal  will  perisli ;  but  the  fever  having  been  subdued  by  a 
judicious  bleeding,  and  the  bowels  after  that  being  excited  to  action, 
the  recovery  is  in  a  manner  assured.  The  medicine  should  be  active, 
and  in  sufficient  quantity  ;  for  there  is  no  time  for  ti-ifling  here.  A 
scruple  of  the  farina  of  the  Croton-nut,  and  a  pound  of  Epsom  salts, 
will  constitute  a  medium  dose.  For  a  large  beast  the  quantity  of 
the  salts  should  be  increased.  Doses  of  half  a  pound  should  after- 
wards be  given  every  six  hours  until  purgation  is  produced.  The 
usual  quantity  of  aromatic  medicine  should  be  added.  Here,  too, 
the  constitution  of  the  stomachs  of  cattle  should  not  be  forgotten.  If 
twenty-lour  hours  have  passed,  and  purging  has  not  commenced, 
even  after  the  administration  of  such  a  drug  as  the  Croton-nut,  there 
is  reason  to  suspect  that  the  greater  part  of  our  medicine  has  not 
got  beyond  the  rumen ;  and  on  account  of  the  cuticular  and  compa- 
ratively insensible  Hning  of  this  stomach,  strong  stimulants  must  now 
be  added  to  the  purgative  medicine,  in  order  to  induce  it  to  contract 
upon  and  expel  its  contents.  Two  drachms  each  of  ginger,  gentian, 
and  carraway  powder,  with  half  a  pint  of  old  ale,  may,  with  advantage, 
be  given  with  each  dose  of  the  physic. 

Warm  water,  with  Epsom  salts  dissolved  in  it,  or  warm  soap  and 
water,  will  form  the  best  injection,  and  should  be  thrown  up  fre- 
quently, and  in  considerable  quantities. 

Should  the  constipation  obstinately  continue,  it  may  be  worth 
while  to  inject  a  considerable  quantity  of  warm  water  into  the  rumen, 
and  thus  soften  and  dissolve  the  hard  mass  of  undigrested  food,  and 


406  CATTLE. 


permit  the  medicine  to  come  more  effectually  into  contact  with  the 
coats  of  the  stomach.  The  waim  water  would  also  stimulate  the 
stomach  to  contract,  and  thus  get  rid  of  a  portion  of  its  contents, 
either  by  vomiting  or  purging.  In  the  first  case,  there  would  be 
room  for  the  exhibition  of  more  purgative  medicine  ;  in  the  other, 
the  effect  most  of  all  desired  would  have  been  obtained. 

The  rumen  will  often  annoy  the  practitioner  in  another  way  in  this 
complaint :  either  on  account  of  a  vitiated  secretion  in  that  stomach, 
or  from  the  retention  of  the  food,  which,  exposed  to  the  united  influ- 
ence of  Avarmth  and  moisture,  begins  to  ferment,  there  will  be  con- 
siderable extrication  of  gas,  and  the  animal  will  swell  with  even  more 
rapidity  and  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  simple  hoove.  The  flanks 
should  immediately  be  punctured,  or  the  probang  introduced,  in 
order  to  permit  the  carburetted  hydrogen  to  escape.  A  dose  of  the 
solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime,  as  already  recommended  under 
"  Hoove,"  should  be  given,  to  prevent  the  extrication  of  more  gas ; 
and  a  greater  quantity  of  aromatic  and  fever  medicine  should  be 
added  to  the  purgative,  th^it  the  stomach  may  be  roused  to  healthy 
action. 

Ere  this  the  practitioner  will  have  thought  it  necessary  to  pay 
some  attention  to  the  comfort  of  the  patient.  This  part  of  medical 
treatment  is  too  often  neglected.  She  should  have  been  watched 
before  she  actually  dropped,  and  got  as  soon  as  possible  into  the 
house,  and  well  and  warmly  littered  up.  If  she  drops  in  the  field,  it 
■will  always  be  difficult  to  get  her  home ;  and  if  she  continues  out, 
and  bad  weather  comes  on,  she  will  assuredly  be  lost.  She  should 
be  placed  on  one  side,  or,  if  possible,  on  her  belly,  inclining  a  little  to 
one  side,  and,  as  much  as  can  be  managed,  in  her  usual  position,  and 
with  her  fore  parts  a  little  elevated,  and  she  should  be  secured  in 
that  position  by  trusses  of  straw.  She  should  be  moved  or  turned 
morning  and  night,  in  order  to  prevent  soreness  and  excoriation. 
Warm  gruel  and  water  should  be  frequently  offered  to  her,  and  if 
these  ar.e  obstinately  refused,  she  should  be  moderately  drenched 
with  thick  gruel.  Bean  and  malt  mashes  may  be  given  with  a  little 
sweet  hay :  but  it  must  be  remembered,  that  while  moderate  nourish- 
ment is  necessary  to  recruit  her  strength  and  support  her  through 
such  a  disease,  yet  the  digestive  powers  have  usually  shown  that 
they  have  shared  in  the  debility  of  the  frame,  and  must  not  be  too 
early  or  too  much  taxed. 

Having  well  opened  the  bowels  and  subdued  the  fever,  the  future 
proceedings  must  be  regulated  by  the  state  of  the  patient.  In 
general,  httle  more  will  be  necessary  than  attention  to  diet  and  com- 
fort. At  all  events,  tonics  and  stimulants  should  not  be  too  hastily 
given.  It  should  be  recollected,  that  the  disease  was  essentially  of 
a  febrile  nature.  Experience  will  convince  the  practitioner,  that 
there  long  remains  a  lurking  tendency  to  the  renewal  of  febrile  ac- 


MILK  FEVER— DROPPING  AFTER  CALVING.  407 

tion,  and  he  will  beware  lest  he  kindles  the  fire  afresh  ;  but  if  the 
cow  should  continue  in  a  low  and  weakly  state,  and  especially  if  hei 
remaining  strength  should  seem  to  be  gradually  declining,  gentian 
and  ginger  may  be  administered  twice  in  the  day,  in  doses  of  half 
an  ounce  of  the  first  and  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  the  second  ;  but 
the  outrageous  quantities  of  aromatics  and  bitters,  and  ardent  spirits, 
that  are  occasionally  given,  cannot  fail  of  being  injurious. 

It  occasionally  happens  that  the  cow  appears  to  recover  a  portion 
of  strength  in  her  fore-quarters,  and  makes  many  ineffectual  attempts 
to  rise,  but  tlie  hind-quarters  are  comparatively  powerless.  This 
partial  palsy  of  the  hind  extremities  is  the  natural  consequence  both 
of  inflammation  of  the  womb  and  of  the  bowels.  The  best  remedy 
is  a  plaster.  All  embrocations  are  thrown  away  on  the  thick  skin  of 
the  cow,  and  the  constant  stimulus  of  a  plaster  and  the  mechanical 
support  afforded  by  it,  will  alone  effect  the  desired  purpose.  A 
week  or  ten  days  should  be  given  to  the  animal,  in  order  to  see 
whether  the  power  of  voluntary  motion  in  these  limbs  will  return  ; 
but  should  the  paralytic  affection  then  remain,  a  sling  must  be  con- 
trived, by  which  she  may  be  supported,  and  during  the  use  of  which 
she  may  be  enabled  gradually  to  thro's)?  a  portion  of  her  weight 
upon  these  legs,  and  re-accustom  them  to  the  performance  of  their 
duty. 

A  very  singular  variety  of  the  disease  has  already  been  hinted  at. 
The  cow  is  down,  but  there  is  apparently  nothing  more  the  mattei 
with  her  than  that  she  is  unable  to  rise  ;  she  eats,  and  drinks,  and 
ruminates  as  usual,  and  the  evacuations  are  scarcely  altered.  In 
this  state  she  continues  from  two  days  to  a  fortnight,  and  then  she 
gets  up  well. 

There  is  a  common  consent  amongst  the  different  organs  of  the  frame 
both  under  healthy  and  diseased  action.  It  has  been  stated  that  a 
partial  or  total  suppression  of  the  secretion  of  milk  is  frequently  an 
early  symptom,  and,  in  some  =stage  or  other,  an  almost  invariable  one, 
of  the  disease.  Experience  Jkewise  shows  that  if  the  secretion  of 
milk  can  be  recalled,  the  restoration  of  the  use  of  the  limbs  is  not  far 
distant.  The  teats  should  be  frequently  drawn,  and  the  discharge  of 
milk  industriously  solicited.  This  is  a  simple  method  of  cure,  but  it 
is  a  far  more  effectual  one  than  many  imagine. 

That  milk-fever  is  sometimes  epidemic,  there  is  every  reason  to 
suppose.  The  practitioner  may,  perhaps,  be  long  without  a  case, 
but  if  one  comes  under  his  notice,  he  has  reason  to  suspect  that  it 
will  soon  be  followed  by  others. 

That  there  is  a  constitutional  tendency  to  this  complaint,  cannot  be 
denied.  Beasts  in  high  condition  are  peculiarly  subject  to  it ;  and 
an  animal  that  has  once  experienced  an  attack  of  it  becomes  exceed- 
ingly liable  to  the  disease  at  her  next,  or  at  some  future  calving. 
Agriculturists  are   perfectly  aware  of  this ;  and   if  a  cow  recovers 


406  CATTLE. 

from  puerperal  fever,  her  milk  is  dried,  and  she  is  fattened  and  sold 
without  much  loss  of  time. 

Something  may  be  done  in  the  way  of  prevention.  If  the  cow  be 
in  a  high,  and  consequently  a  dangerous  state  of  contMtion,  and  has 
been  fed  on  luxuriant  pasture,  it  will  be  very  proper,  as  has  been 
already  stated,  to  bleed  her,  and  give  her  a  dose  of  phydc,  and  re- 
move her  to  a  field  of  shorter  bite,  a  little  before  her  expected  time 
of  calving.  Many  valuable  animals  have  been  saved  by  this  pre- 
caution. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — The  first  thing  to  be  done,  is  to  ad- 
minister, within  three  or  four  hours,  three  or  four  doses  of  aconitum, 
which  generally  effect  a  perceptible  calm.  Then  have  recourse  to 
Pulsatilla  and  mix  vomica.  Belladonna  is  also  an  excellent  remedy, 
particularly  in  cases  of  very  painful  swelling  of  the  belly,  and  of  re- 
tention of  the  placenta.  Chamomilla  restores  the  secretion  of  milk. 
Paralysis  of  the  hind-quarters  will  generally  yield  to  nux  vomica  ;  but 
if  it  does  not,  then  it  will  disappear  under  the  influence  of  rkus 
toxicodendron. 

SORE    TEATS. 

Cows  are  very  subject  to  inflammation  of  the  udder  soon  after 
calving.  The  new  or  increased  function  which  is  now  set  up,  and 
the  sudden  distension  of  the  bag  with  milk,  produce  tenderness  and 
irritability  of  the  udder,  and  particularly  of  the  teats.  This  in  some 
cases  shows  itself  in  the  foi  m  of  excoriations  or  sores,  or  small  cracks 
or  chaps,  on  the  teats,  and  very  troublesome  they  are.  The  dis- 
charge likewise  from  these  cracks  mingles  with  the  milk.  The  cow 
sufiers  much  pain  in  the  act  of  milking,  and  is  often  unmanageable. 
Many  a  cow  has  been  ruined,  both  as  a  quiet  and  a  plentiful  milker, 
by  bad  management  when  her  teats  have  been  sore.  It  is  folly  to 
have  recourse  to  harsh  treatment,  to  compel  her  to  submit  to  the  in- 
fliction of  pain  in  the  act  of  milking ;  she  will  only  become  more  vio- 
lent, and  probably  become  a  kicker  for  life  ;  if  by  soothing  and  kind 
treatment  she  cannot  ^e  induced  to  stand,  nothing  else  will  eff'ect  it. 
She  will  also  form  a  .labit  of  retaining  her  milk,  which  will  very 
speedily  and  very  materially  reduce  its  quantity.  The  teats  should 
be  fomented  with  warm  water,  in  order  to  clean  them  and  get  rid  of 
a  portion  of  the  hardened  scabbiness  about  them,  the  continuance  of 
which  is  the  cause  of  the  greatest  pain  in  the  act  nf  milking  ;  and 
after  the  milking,  the  teats  should  be  dressed  with  the  following 
ointment : — Take  an  ounce  of  yellow  wax,  and  three  of  lard,  melt 
them  together,  and  when  they  begin  to  get  cool,  well  rub  in  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  sugar  of  lead  and  a  drachm  of  alum  finely 
powdered. 

GARGET,  OR    SORB    BAG. 

Too  often,  however,  the  inflammation  assumes  another  and  worse 


GARGET,  OR  SORE  BAG.  409 

character  :  it  attacks  the  internal  substance  of  the  udder — one  of  the 
teats  or  the  quarters  becomes  enlarged,  hot,  and  tender — it  soon 
begins  to  feel  hard,  it  is  knotty  ;  it  contains  within  it  little  distinct 
hardened  tumors  or  kernels.  In  a  short  space  of  time,  other  teats 
or  other  quarters  probably  assume  the  same  character.  The  milk 
has  coagulated  in  the  bag  to  a  certain  degree,  and  it  has  caused  local 
inflammation  where  it  lodges.  This  occurs  particularly  in  young 
cows,  after  their  fii-st  calving,  and  when  they  are  in  a  somewhat  too 
high  condition,  and  it  is  usually  attended  by  a  greater  or  less  degree 
of  fever. 

The  most  eflfectual  remedy  for  this,  in  the  early  stage  of  the  com- 
plaint, is  a  very  simple  one  ;  the  calf  should  be  put  to  the  mother, 
and  it  should  suck  and  knock  about  the  udder  at  its  pleasure.  In 
most  cases  this  wnll  relieve  her  from  the  too  great  flow  of  milk,  and 
disperse  all  the  lumps. 

If  the  inflammation  continues  or  increases,  or  the  bag  should  be 
so  tender  that  the  mother  will  not  permit  the  calf  to  suck  ;  and 
especially  should  the  fever  evidently  increase,  and  the  cow  refuse  to 
eat,  or  cease  to  ruminate,  and  the  milk  become  discolored,  and  mixed 
with  matter  or  with  blood,  the  case  must  be  taken  seriously  in  hand. 
The  cow  should  be  bled  ;  a  dose  of  physic  administered  ;  the  udder 
well  fomented  ;  the  milk  drawn  gently  but  completely  off,  at  least 
twice  in  the  day,  and  an  ointment,  composed  of  the  following  ingre- 
dients, as  thoroughly  rubbed  into  the  bag  as  the  cow  will  permit. 
(Rub  down  an  ounce  of  camphor,  having  poured  a  tea-spoonful  of 
spirit  of  wine  upon  it ;  add  an  ounce  of  mercurial  ointment,  and  half 
a  pound  of  elder  ointment,  and  well  incorporate  them  together.)  Let 
this  be  applied  after  every  milking,  the  udder  being  well  fomented 
with  warm  water,  and  the  remains  of  the  ointment  washed  off  before 
the  next  milking. 

If  the  disease  does  not  speedily  yield  to  this  treatment,  recourse 
must  be  had  to  iodine,  which  often  has  admirable  effects  in  diminish- 
ing glandular  enlargements.  The  only  objection  to  iodine,  and  which 
renders  it  advisable  to  give  the  camphoretted  mercurial  ointment  a 
short  trial,  is  that  while,  by  its  power  of  exciting  the  absorbents  of 
the  glands  generally  to  action,  it  causes  the  dispersion  of  unnatural 
enlargements,  it  occasionally  acts  upon  and  a  little  diminishes  the 
gland  itself.  This,  however,  rarely  happens  to  any  considerable 
degi-ee,  and  will  not  form  a  serious  objection  to  its  use  when  other 
means  have  failed.  It  should  be  applied  externally,  in  the  form  of  an 
ointment,  (one  part  of  the  hydriodate  of  potash  being  saturated  with 
seven  parts  of  lard,)  one  or  two  drachms  of  which  should  be  rubbed 
into  the  diseased  portion  of  the  udder,  every  morning  and  night.  At 
the  same  time  the  hydriodate  may  be  given  internally,  in  doses  grad- 
ually increased  from  six  to  twelve  grains  daily. 

The  udder  should  be  frequently  examined,  for  matter  will  soon  be- 
18 


410  CATTLE. 


gin  to  form  in  the  centre  of  these  indurations,  and  should  be  speedily 
evacuated,  lest  it  should  burrow  in  various  parts  of  the  bag,  and,  when 
at  length  it  does  find  its  way  to  the  surface  and  bursts  through  the 
skin,  irregular  ulcers  should  be  foimed,  at  all  times  difficult  to  heal, 
and  sometimes  involving  the  loss  of  more  than  one  of  the  quarters. 
Whenever  there  is  any  appearance  of  suppuration  having  commenced, 
(a  minute  observation  will  enable  the  practitioner  to  discover  the  very 
spot  at  which  the  tumor  is  preparing  to  point,)  the  diseased  part 
should  be  freely  and  deeply  lanced,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  mat- 
ter will  often  be  discharged.  It  is  generally  bad  practice  to  cut  off 
the  teat ;  not  only  is  it  afterwards  missed  in  the  milking,  but  the 
quantity  of  the  milk  is  usually  lessened  to  a  greater  or  less  degree. 

Should  the  tumor  have  been  left  to  break,  a  deep  and  ragged  ulcer 
will  then  be  formed,  and  must  immediately  be  attended  to,  for  the 
neighboring  part  will  be  rapidly  involved.  Half  of  the  bag  has  in 
some  cases  become  mortified  in  a  few  days,  and  diseased  portions 
have  either  dropped  oflf,  or  it  has  been  necessary  to  remove  them  in 
order  to  stop  the  spread  of  the  gangrene.  The  chloride  of  lime  is  an 
invaluable  application  here.  The  wound  should  be  well  cleaned  with 
warm  water,  and  then  a  dilute  solution  of  the  chloride  freely  applied 
to  every  part  of  it;  not  only  will  the  unpleasant  smell  from  the  ulcer 
be  immediately  got  rid  of,  but  its  destructive  progress  will  be  arrested, 
and  the  wound  will  speedily  take  on  a  healthy  character.  When  this 
is  effected,  recourse  may  be  had  to  the  Friar's  balsam  ;  but  the 
occasional  use  of  the  chloride  will  be  advantageous  until  the  bag  is 
perfectly  healed. 

Chronic  indurations  will  sometimes  remain  after  the  inflammation 
of  garget  has  been  subdued  ;  they  will  be  somewhat  tender,  and  they 
will  always  lessen  the  quantity  of  milk  obtained  from  that  quarter. 
The  iodine  will  seldom  fail  of  dispersing  these  tumors.  The  ointment 
just  recommended  should  be  well  rubbed  in  twice  every  day,  and  if 
the  enlargement  does  not  speedily  subside,  the  hydriodate  should  also 
be  given  internally. 

The  causes  of  garget  are  various  ,  the  thoughtless  and  unfeeling 
exposure  of  the  animal  to  cold  and  wet,  at  the  time  of  or  soon  after 
parturition,  the  neglect  of  physic  or  bleeding  before  calving,  or  suf- 
fering the  cow  to  get  into  too  high  condition,  are  frequent  causes. 
So  powerful  is  the  latter  one,  that  instances  are  not  unfrequent  of 
cows,  that  have  for  some  time  been  dried,  and  of  heifers  that  have 
never  yieldt^d  milk,  having  violent  inflammation  of  the  udder.  The 
hastily  drying  of  the  cow  has  given  rise  to  indurations  in  the  udder 
that  have  not  easily  been  removed.  An  awkward  manner  of  lying 
upon  and  bruising  the  udder  is  an  occasional  cause ;  and  a  very 
frequent  one  is  the  careless  habit  of  not  milking  the  cow  clean,  but 
leaving  a  portion  in  the  bag,  and  the  best  portion  of  the  milk  too, 
aad  yfhich  gradually  becomes  a  source  of  irritation  and  inflammation 


SARGET,  OR  tORE  BAG.  411 


in  the  part.  Connected  with  this  last  cause  is  the  necessity  of  the 
advice  already  given,  to  milk  the  cow  as  clean  as  possible,  at  least 
twice  in  the  day,  during  the  existence  and  treatment  of  garget. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. —  1.  Injiamw.atory  tumefaction. — A  little 
time  before  and  after  calving,  particularly  in  the  first  birth,  often  too 
at  other  periods,  there  is  observed  on  the  udder  a  painful  inflamma- 
tory swelling  :  the  organ  is  hard,  tense,  hot  and  red ;  the  entire,  or 
only  a  part,  is  affected  with  swelling.  The  animal  has  rather  high 
fever,  a  sharp  thirst,  the  mouth  is  dry,  and  there  is  but  little  appetite ; 
the  secretion  of  milk  is  more  or  less  diminished.  This  disease  is 
produced  by  different  causes.  The  most  common  are  contusion, 
stings  of  insects,  cold,  the  too  prolonged'  retention  of  milk,  &c.  Some 
say  it  has  been  occasioned  by  too  little  exercise.  If  it  has  been 
caused  by  external  injury,  frequently  moistening  the  part  with  arnica 
water  is  sufficient  to  cure  it ;  a  dose  of  it  should  also  be  taken  inter- 
nally every  day.  Arsenicum  should  be  employed  only  when  the 
disease  has  been  neglected,  or  when  there  have  supervened  gan- 
grenous inflammation  or  ill-conducted  ulcerations  with  hard  and 
everted  edges.  After  cold,  the  cure  is  readily  obtained  by  aconitum 
at  first,  then  hryonia ;  if  the  latter  does  not  suffice,  dulcamara. 
Chamomilla  also  has  frequently  proved  useful.  Belladonna  has 
been  found  a  specific  in  the  treatment  of  erysipelatous  inflammation. 
However,  others  recommend  arnica,  camphora,  phosphorus  and  silicea. 
In  the  inflammation  which  comes  on  a  little  before  or  after  calving, 
belladonna  and  chamomilla  are  specifics ;  chamomilla  more  especially 
when  nodosities  are  felt  in  the  organ,  without  the  external  integuments 
participating  in  it.  If  the  inflammation  passes  into  gangrene,  or 
produces  malignant  ulcers,  arseniciim  should  be  administered ;  if, 
gangrene  having  supervened,  the  skin  readily  becomes  detached, 
secale  cornutum  should  be  employed.  Silicea  also  produces  good 
effects  in  obstinate  ulcers  ;  asafoetida.  and  mercurius  vivus  in  treating 
unhealthy  suppuration.  We  may  also  in  such  a  case  recommend  cahor 
vegetahilis,  calcarea  carhonica,  and  pulsatilla,  the  latter  more  especially 
when  fistulous  sores  begin  to  form. 

The  abnormal  swelling  of  the  udder,  especially  when  caused  by 
cold  or  moisture,  yields  to  lotions  repeated  several  times  a  day  with 
camphoretted  brandy. 

2.  Induration. — This  proceeds  from  the  same  causes  as  inflam- 
mation, and  may  also  result  from  internal  causes.  It  is  or  is  not 
accompanied  with  pains  and  suppression  of  milk :  the  latter  often 
assumes  a  bad  color,  or  undergoes  some  other  change,  becomes  gran- 
ular and  puriform.  If  the  indurations  are  painful  and  consist  of 
rounded  tubercles,  they  are  resolved  in  ten  or  twelve  days,  either  by 
bryonia  (one  dose  morning  and  evening),  or  by  chamomilla,  chiefly 
when  the  tumor  yields  a  crackling  noise  on  being  touched,  tf  the 
cause  has  been  an  external  injury,  we  must  have  recourse  to  a  few 


412  CATTLE. 


doses  of  arnica,  then  to  conium.  The  indurations,  both  those  that  ar€ 
painful  as  well  as  those  which  are  indolent,  with  glandular  swellings 
in  the  interior  of  the  udder,  yield  to  chamomilla,  or,  when  they  are 
very  hard  and  obstinate,  to  aconitum  and  mercurms  vivus.  The 
nodosities  which  succeed  an  inflammation  are  to  be  treated  with 
camphora,  chamomilla^  and  conium,  of  each  two  doses  at  the  interval 
of  two  days.  If  resolution  does  not  take  place,  hepai-  sulpkuris  (one 
dose  morning  and  evening)  causes  them  to  break,  generally  at  the 
end  of  thirty-six  hours. 

3.  Warts. — Warts,  which  are  often  produced  in  consequence  of 
internal  disease  on  the  bellies  of  the  cows  in  great  numbers,  spread 
occasionally  even  to  the  udders ;  besides  their  repulsive  appearance, 
they  prevent  the  animal  from  being  milked.  The  remedy  against 
those  which  are  flat,  dry,  and  not  pediculated,  is  dulcamara :  thuja 
is  the  remedy  for  those  which  are  cut  and  mangled,  oozing,  and 
suppurating :  causticuvi  has  been  more  than  once  useful  in  the  treat- 
ment of  bleeding  warts,  and  those  which  suppurate  and  are  painful. 
Sometimes  the  wart  gives  place  to  an  ulcer  with  everted  edges,  in 
which  case  we  must  have  recourse  to  arsenicum. 

4.  Wounds. — There  are  often  produced  in  the  teats  circular  cracks 
or  chaps,  which  occasion  to  the  animal  great  pain,  and  which,  though 
often  caused  by  the  brutality  of  the  cow-herds,  are  attributable  in 
many  cases  to  a  morbid  internal  state.  Those  of  the  latter  species 
require  the  employment  of  sulphur  internally,  to  be  continued  for  a 
considerable  time.  ]n  all  other  circumstances,  fomentations  with 
(urnica  water  are  sufficient. 

MILK-SICKNESS,  OR    TREMBLES. 

This  disease,  peculiar  to  America,  and  hmited  to  a  portion  of  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi,  has  been  reserved  for  this  place,  on  account 
of  the  name  by  which  it  is  universally  known.  In  cattle  it  is  not  a 
disease  of  the  udder,  or  its  connections.  It  takes  its  name  from  the 
illness  produced  in  man  by  the  use  of  the  milk  of  cattle  diseased  by 
the  eating  of  some  wild  plant  or  vegetable,  or  the  drinking  of  w^ater 
poisoned  by  minerals. 

Dr.  Graff,  of  Illinois,  in  the  American  Jounal  of  Medical  Science, 
April  1841,  says  : — 

The  only  name  by  which  it  is  known,  is  that  which  I  ha^-e  used, 
which  is  quite  objectionable,  as  it  may  serve  to  convey  an  erroneous 
impression  by  the  supposition  that  milk  only  could  produce  it ; 
whereas  the  flesh  of  an  infected  animal  acts  with  an  equal  degree  of 
violence  and  rapidity. 

It  is  a  disease  peculiar  to  the  United  States,  occurring  seldom,  if 
ever,  to  the  eastward  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  It  is  in  a  greater 
or  less  degree  met  with  in  all  the  Western  States,  as  far  south  as  the 


MILK  SICKNESS,  OR  TREMBLES.  413 

Mississippi,  and  extends  north  to  the  boundary.  The  States  of 
Indiana  and  llHnois  are  most  subject  to  its  occurrence,  whilst  its 
existence  in  the  bordering  Slates  is  comparatively  rare. 

Its  occurrence  or  prevalence  is  confined  to  no  season,  or  description  of 
weather,  existing  in  a  like  degree  in  the  heat  of  summer  or  cold  of  win- 
ter, and  with  like  virulence  and  frequency  during  a  dry  or  wet  season. 

We  will  first  speak  of  the  symptoms  manifested  in  cattle  affected 
with  it,  as  it  is  only  through  them  that  we  have  yet  found  the  disease 
communicated  to  man.  This  may  be  affected  to  such  a  degree  as 
that  their  flesh  and  milk  will  produce  the  disease,  and  yet  they  them- 
selves manifest  no  unhealthy  symptoms  whatever.  This  latent  con- 
dition of  the  disease  may  be  discovered  by  subjecting  the  suspected 
animal  to  n  violent  degree  of  exercise,  when,  according  to  the 
intensity  of  the  existing  cause,  it  will  be  seized  with  tremors,  spasms, 
convulsions,  or  even  death.  This  is  a  precaution  practised  by 
butchers  in  these  countries,  always  before  slaughtering  an  animal  in 
anywise  suspected  of  the  poisonous  contamination.  An  ordinary 
degree  of  exertion  will  not  develope  these  phenomena  unless  it  pro- 
duce the  symptoms  usually  preceding  a  fatal  termination.  When, 
for  instance,  a  cow  is  sufficiently  deeply  aflfected,  nothing  peculiar  is 
observed  until  immediately  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  fatal 
symptoms.  She  is  then  observedto  walk  about,  with  out  any  appa- 
rent object  in  view  ;  all  food  is  refused,  and  there  is  evidence  of 
impaired  vision.  The  eye  is  first  of  a  fiery  appearance,  increasing  to 
a  deep  red  color,  until  the  animal  is  observed  to  stagger  and  fall, 
when,  if  she  rises,  the  trembling  of  the  whole  muscular  system  will 
prevent  the  maintenance  of  the  standing  position.  The  animal  usually 
dies  after  repeated  convulsions,  never  lingering  beyond  a  few  hours. 
Often  it  falls  suddenly,  as  if  it  received  a  blow  from  a  heavy  body  on 
the  head,  and  death  is  produced  in  a  few  minutes. 

The  cause  of  this  disease  of  animals  is  as  yet  shrouded  in  mystery 
and  uncertainty.  No  satisfactory  account  of  its  nature  has  yet  been 
given,  and  it  has  in  turn  been  supposed  to  be  of  vegetable,  mineral, 
and  even  aerial  origin.  The  limits  of  its  prevalence  is  not  often  over 
a  large  and  continuous  tract  of  country,  but  rather  circumscribed, 
and  surrounded  by  localities  never  known  to  produce  it.  No  exam- 
ple^ is  known  in  which  the  property  of  producing  the  disease  has  been 
acquired  by  any  locality  which  did  not  previously  possess  it.  The 
boundaries  which  were  at  the  first  discovery  of  the  country  found  to 
separate  the  infected  from  the  healthy  districts,  remain  unchanged. 
The  locality  which  serves  to  produce  the  disease,  most  commonly 
extends  as  a  vein  of  variable  breadth,  traversing  the  country  for  a 
considerable  distance.  It  can  be  traced  in  one  instance  fi»r  nearly  a 
hundred  miles,  running  parallel  to  the  course  of  the  Wabash  river,  in 
the  State  of  Indiana, 

Again,  it  will  be  found  to  occupy  an  isolated  spo:   comprised  in 


414  CATTLE. 


an  area  of  one  hundred  acres,  whilst  for  a  considerable  distance 
around  it  is  not  produced.  Thus  having  the  locality  perfectly  cir- 
cumscribed, much  labor  has  been  expended  in  order  to  discover  some 
production  peculiar  to  the  locality.  The  search  has  been  uniformly 
unsuccessful  in  the  attainment  of  its  object.  The  general  appearance 
of  these  infectea  districts  is  somewhat  peculiar.  I  have  always 
observed  that  the  situation  of  the  ground  is  elevated  above  that  of 
the  surrounding  country,  occupying  what  is  denominated  a  ridge,  and 
that  the  quality  of  the  soil  is  in  general  of  an  inferior  description. 
The  growth  of  timber  is  not  observed  to  be  so  luxuriant  as  in  situa- 
tions otherwise  similar,  but  is  scrubby,  and  stunted  in  its  perfect 
development.  Throughout  the  entire  district  in  which  these  localities 
are  interspersed,  there  is  observed  an  absence  of  the  occurrence  of 
stones  scattered  over  the  surface,  whilst  in  the  infected  districts,  they 
are  almost  universally  present.  They  are  of  small  size  and  darkened 
aspect  externally,  breaking  with  a  regular  and  shining  fracture,  and, 
upon  analysis,  imperfectly  made,  were  found  to  contain  a  considerable 
portion  of  iron,  with  slight  traces  of  copper.  Another  more  decided 
and  peculiar  appearance,  which  serves  to  distinguish  them  from  other 
spots,  is  the  breaking  forth  of  numerous  feeble  springs,  furnishing  a 
trifling  supply  of  water,  but  not  varying  in  quantity  with  the  change 
of  seasons.  In  its  appearance,  it  presents  the  general  evidences  of  a 
sulphurous  and  ferruginous  contamination. 

Experiments  made  upon  the  water  collected  from  these  springs,  or 
more  properly  called  oozes  from  the  soil,  with  the  greatest  care,  by 
the  employment  of  the  most  delicate  chemical  re-agents,  failed  to 
indicate  the  presence  of  any  mineral  except  iron,  sulphur,  traces  of 
magnesia,  and  a  quantity  of  copper  barely  capable  of  being  demon- 
strated. A  belief  being  entertained  by  many  that  the  disease  is  occa- 
sioned by  arsenic,  or  some  of  its  salts,  I,  with  much  care  and  patience, 
subjected  not  only  the  water,  but  likewise  the  earth,  from  these  dis- 
tricts to  a  most  rigid  examination,  and  by  no  test  was  I  furnished  with 
the  slightest  evidence  of  its  presence. 

An  intelligent  medical  friend  expressed  to  me  his  belief,  that  it  was 
produced  by  the  inhalation  of  some  noxious  gases  generated  during 
the  night ;  in  proof,  he  stated  that  he  had  observed  cattle,  which 
were  regularly  housed  each  evening,  escaped  its  attacks,  and  that 
when  suffered  to  remain  at  large,  they  were  frequently  seized  with 
the  disease.  It  is  difficult  to  form  this  belief  of  the  nature  of  the 
cause,  as  we  can  hardly  conceive  the  particular  action  of  any  com- 
bination of  circumstances,  capable  of  giving  rise  to  such  an  emanation 
only  at  night,  ceasing  to  operate  during  the  day.  The  most  popular 
belief  is  in  favor  of  a  vegetable  origin.  But  this  appears  irrecon- 
cilable with  the  fact  that  the  disease  has  frequently  appeared  with 
its  greatest  virulence  when  the  grounc.  has  been  for  weeks  previously 
covered  with  snow. 


MILK  SICKNESS,  OR  TREMBLES.  415 

For  my  own  part,  I  would  most  willingly  subscribe  to  the  opinion 
that  some  mineral  or  mineral  combination  possesses  the  agency  of  its 
production.  Yet  I  confess  that  I  cannot  even  imagine  what  must  be 
the  nature  of  that  substance  producing  such  violent  and  anomalous 
eflfects,  and  in- its  operations  so  unlike  anything  with  which  we  are 
acquainted.  The  cause,  whatever  it  may  be,  when  it  enters  into  the 
organization  of  the  animal,  either  by  inducing  a  specific  action  in  the 
tissues  of  the  economy,  or  by  a  combination  with  some  of  the  elements" 
of  the  body,  forms  a  poison  not  more  violent  in,  its  operation  than 
singular  in  the  eflfects  it  can  produce.  If  this  cause  should  prove  to 
be  a  mineral,  it  must  be  one  of  great  subtlety,  from  its  diflSculty  of 
detection,  and  from  its  virulence  it  must  possess  qualities  and  activity 
not  equalled  nor  resembled  by  any  metal  or  metallic  combination  yet 
discovered.  No  substance  of  which  we"  have  any  knowledge  will 
produce  like  phenomena. 

Hoping  that  if  T  could  succeed  in  developing  the  same  symptoms 
and  eflfects  by  some  active  or  poisonous  article,  it  might,  by  the 
probable  analogy  of  the  agents,  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  nature 
of  this  poison,'!  patiently  tried  many.  The  action  of  none  of  the 
mineral  poisons  were  found  at  all  similar.  My  experiments  were 
chiefly  made  on  dogs,  and  in  them  I  found  the  symptoms  immediately 
preceding  their  death,  occasioned  by  a  fatal  dose  of  strychnia, 
greatly  to  resemble  those  produced  by  the  continued  administration 
of  the  flesh  of  an  animal  which  had  perished  from  milk  sickness.  The 
appearances  on  dissection  diflfer  in  a  greater  degree,  and  particularly 
in  cases  of  poisoning  by  the  vegetable  proximate  piinciple,  exhibit  the 
blood  in  a  state  more  nearly  resembling  a  healthy  condition.  With 
the  view  of  an  extensive  series  of  experiments,  I  procured  the  body 
of  a  full  grown  cow,  which  had  perished  suddenly  from  the  aftection, 
with  violent  symptoms.  The  brain  was  immersed  in  a  copious  efifu- 
sion  of  blood,  and  in  no  part  of  the  body  was  it  found  coa^^ulated. 
The  flesh  in  external  appearances  did  not  differ  from  that  of  healthy 
beef,  unless  that  it  was  slightly  darker,  and  a  thin  bloody  fluid  con- 
tinually dropped  from  it.  By  exposing  it  by  the  side  of  a  healthy 
portion,  I  found  that  the  influence  of  the  sun  rendered  the  specimen 
from  the  diseased  animal  oflfensive,  and  turned  it  to  a  greenish  hue, 
whilst  the  other  remained  comparatively  sound  and  unaflfected.  It 
can  possess  nothing  peculiar  in  its  taste,  for  persons  who  have  par- 
taken of  it  have  not  remarked  anything  unusual,  and  animals  will 
exercise  no  preference,  if  the  two  descriptions  be  simultaneously  pre- 
sented to  them.  The  beef  which  I  procured  was  subjected  to  the 
ordinary  process  of  salting,  which  did  not  in  the  least  aflfect  its  poi- 
sonous properties. 

Butter  and  cheese,  manufactured  from  the  milk  drawn  from  an 
infected  cow,  are  supposed  to  be  the  most  concentrated  forms  of  this 
poison      They  possess  no  distinguishing  appearance,  odor,  or  taste. 


416  CATTLE. 

from  the  healthy  article.  A  very  minute  quantity  of  either  will 
suffice  to  developc  the  disease  in  man.  The  cream,  ordinarily  suffi- 
cient to  be  added  to  the  coffee  drank  at  a  single  meal,  is  said  to  have 
induced  an  attack.  The  butter  or  cheese  eaten  at  one  repast  has  fre- 
quently been  known  to  prove  effective.  The  property  is  not  con- 
tained in  any  of  the  elements  of  the  milk  exclusively,  but  distributed 
throughout  the  whole  of  them,  being  possessed  by  the  butter-milk  as 
-well  as  the  whey.  Beef,  in  the  quantity  of  a  few  ounces,  will  produce 
the  disease,  and  it  is  believed  in  a  more  violent  and  fatal  form  than 
when  it  is  produced  by  milk  or  any  of  its  preparations. 

The  effect  of  the  poison  is  manifested  throughout  the  entire 
system,  and  vitiates  all  the  secretions.  An  experiment,  which  went 
far  to  prove  how  deeply  the  milk  of  other  animals  is  imbued  with  its 
poison,  was  made  by  administering  the  infected  meat  to  a  bitch  suck- 
ling five  puppies.  The  effect  produced  in  them  was  very  sudden, 
and  the  entire  litter  died  in  four  days,  which  was  two  days  before  the 
occurrence  of  the  death  of  the  mother. 

The  subtle,  poisonous  principle,  of  whatever  it  may  be  proved  to 
consist,  seems  to  possess  the  power  of  Infinite  reproda.vxjn,  by  some 
vital  or  chemico-vital  action  of  the  system  of  those  aiiim^.^  poisoned 
by  its  influence.  Thus,  suppo;^ing  one  pound  of  flesh  to  prove  suffi- 
cient to  produce  the  death  of  another  animal,  it  will  be  found  that 
each  pound  of  flesh  of  that  animal  so  destroyed,  will  possess  as  active 
powers  of  destruction,  and  will,  in  its  turn,  serve  to  contaminate  the 
whole  body  of  another  animal  in  the  same  degree. 

Dr.  J.  B.  Johnston,  of  Indiana,  says  :  "  I  never  knew  the  disease  to 
prevail  where  there  was  not  a  free  growth  of  weeds.  I  well  know 
that  it  is  circumscribed,  that  a  small  section  will  produce  the  disease, 
then  an  exemption  for  some  distance,  when  it  will  again  recur.  So 
of  some  farms  ;  a  portion  will  produce  it,  and  the  other  will  not.  In 
fact,  there  is  not  a  county  from  Floyd  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash, 
and  as  far  north  as  White  River,  that  is  exempt  from  milk  sickness ; 
and  it  often  occurs  in  both  Southern  Illinois  and  Kentucky.  I  have 
never  heard  of  it  above  the  41st  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  it 
seldom  reaches  that  line.  My  firm  convictions  are,  that  the  disease 
termed  milk  sickness  is  produced  by  the  rhus  toxicodendron,  or  poison 
oak,  and  that  it  is  a  separate  and  distinct  species  from  the  raaicans, 
or  poison  vine.  It  is  further  stated  that  the  poison  oak  never  vines — 
that  it  is  never  seen  to  take  hold  on  trees,  and  that  it  grows  from  one 
to  three  feet  in  height ;  that  it  has  three,  while  the  radicans  or  poison 
vine  has  five  leaves," 

Dr.  Mcllhenny,  of  Ohio,  who  has  paid  much  attention  to  this  dis- 
ease, saj^s  :  "  On  the  cause  of  milk  sickness,  we  must  be  allowed  to 
express  our  decided  conviction,  that  it  is  produced  by  the  rhus  toxi- 
ujodendron,  or  poison  oak,  for  the  following  reasons  : — 

1.  Milk  sickness  d3es  not  prevail  where  there  is  no  rhus — that  in 


MILK  SICKNESS,  OR  TREMBLES.  411 

every  section  of  country  where  none  of  the  small  rhus  can  be  found, 
there  can  be  none  of  the  trembles  found. 

2.  It  does  universally  exist  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  the 
smaller  rhus. 

3.  It  never  occurs  until  vegetation  comes  forth  in  the  spring. 

4.  Where  it  prevails  most,  the  rhus  is  in  its  greatest  luxuriance. 

5.  After  the  heavy  frosts  kill  all  vegetation,  the  disease  subsides. 

6.  It  is  a  well  known  fact,  that  cultivation  kills  the  poison  oak — 
entirely  destroys  it.  ^ 

7.  It  is  equally  as  well  established,  that  animals  kept  within  a 
well  cultivated  enclosure  are  perfectl}'  exempt  from  the  disease. 

8.  Almost  every  observant  and  intelligent  individual  who  has  been 
raised  amidst  the  disease,  has  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  rhus 
toxicodendron  is  the  cause  of  milk  sickness. 

9.  That  it  is  distinguished  from  the  radicans,  or  common  poison 
vine,  by  its  diflferent  number  of*  leaves — also,  by  its  acridness  of 
cbaractei-. 

10.  A  certain  locality  produces  the  disease,  find  it  where  you  may, 
such  as  flat,  heavy  timber-land,  interspersed  with  hazle  and  other 
underbrush,  which  is  quite  productive  of  the  rhus. 

11.  Tlie  seldom  appearance  of  the  disease  on  hilly,  dry  ground,  is 
in  consequence  of  such  a  place  not  being  congenial  to  the'  productio  i 
of  that  plant,  so  that  what  little  does  exist,  is  not  so  apt  to  produce 
the  disease,  in  consequence  of  its  unhealthy  growth." 

"  As  to  the  pathology  of  this  disease  I  know  but  little.  I  have 
treated  quite  a  number  of  cases,  but  have  never  been  favored  with  a 
post  mortem  examination  ;  consequently,  I  have  had  no  other  means 
of  ascertaining  morbid  appearances  than  that  of  judging  from  symp- 
toms :  the  mere  external  developments  of  the  internal  condition.  We 
are  told,  however,  that  in  animals  which  die  of  this  disease,  the  mani- 
folds, or  mesentery,  is  in  a  hard,  dry  condition,  and,  in  many  cases, 
perfectly  black  ;  and  that  all  the  folds  which  lie  enclosed  in  the 
bowels,  and  are  in  close  contact  with  them,  are  frequently  in  such  a 
brittle  condition,  that  they  can  be  readily  broken,  particularly  those 
that  envelope  the  stomach  ;  and  that  traces  of  inflammatory  action 
can  be  frequently  discovered  the  whole  length  of  the  intestinal  canal ; 
but  the  greater  amount,  those  that  have  left  the  deepest  marks,  are 
to  be  seen  in  and  around  the  stomach  and  duodenum. 

"  If  this  should  be  a  true  condition  of  the  morbid  appearances  of 
the  animal,  which  we  are  satisfied  it  is,  we  may  reasonab  y  expect 
that  the  same  results  are  to  be  seen  in  the  human  subject."  So  far, 
however,  as  my  opinion  goes,  I  believe  that  the  poison,  when  taken 
into  the  stomach,  produces  inflammation  of  that  organ,  particularly 
confined  to  the  raucous  coat ;  that  inflammation  continuing,  thickens 
the  mucous  lining  to  such  an  extent  that  it  closes,  in  proportion  to 
its  severity,  the  passage  from  th?  stomach  to  the  bowels  I  am 
18* 


418  CATTLE. 


satisfied  that  there  is  inflammation  down  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
bowels,  but,  generally,  in  a  slight  degree.  I  do  not  believe  that  there 
is  any  general  inflammatory  condition  of  any  of  the  chylopoetic  vis- 
cera, but  that  the  entire  force  of  the  disease  is  spent  upon  the  sto- 
mach, and,  perhaps,  duodenum. 

"  From  Avhat  observation  I  have  been  able  to  make  upon  the  sub- 
ject, I  am  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  the  lower  portions  of  the 
bowels  remain,  measurably,  if  not  entirely,  exempt  from  inflamma- 
tion ;  that  it  is  entirely  a  disease  of  the  stomach  ;  that  in  proportion 
to  the  severity  with  which  that  organ  is  atir^^ked,  in  that  proportion 
will  the  chylopoetic  viscera  become  deranged. 

"  Another  proof  that  the  disease  is  inflammatory,  is  the  constipated 
condition  of  the  bowels.  There  could  not  be  such  a  dry  and  hardened 
condition  of  the  fecal  matter  produced  by  any  other  derangement, 
excepting  that  of  inflammatory  action. 

"  I  have  been  led  to  make  these  remarks,  in  consequence  of  an 
opinion  that  is  prevalent  with  some  of  our  practitioners,  that  the 
disease  is  nervous  ;  that  the  great  gastric  irritability  is,  or  might  be, 
attributed  to  nervous  excitement.  This,  to  me,  appears  impossible  ; 
for,  if  the  nerves  of  the  stomach  were  in  such  a  morbid  condition, 
acting  under  such  a  powerful  excitement  as  to  produce  such  distress- 
ing symptoms,  would  not  the  brain  become  sympathetically  affected  ? 
Would  we  not  have  an  apparent  case  of  phrenitis  ?  Whereas,  the 
mind,  generally,  remains  quiet.  We  sometimes  see  mental  depression, 
but  rarely  ever  mental  aberration." 

Professor  Drake,  of  Kentucky,  says :  "  In  the  earliest  stages  of 
this  malady,  in  the  cow,  it  may  not  display  its  existence,  if  the  attack 
be  not  violent  and  the  animal  left  to  itself ;  for  in  the  beginning,  as 
in  all  stages  of  the  disorder,  the  appetite  seems  to  be  unimpaired, 
and  the  thirst  not  increased.  Even  this  early  stage,  not  less  than 
the  more  advanced,  appears,  however,  to  be  attended  with  constipa- 
tion of  the  bowels.  The  animal  at  length  begins  to  mope  and  droop, 
to  walk  slower  than  its  fellows,  and  to  falter  in  its  gait.  If,  under 
these  circumstances,  it  should  be  driven,  and  attempt  to  run,  the 
debility  and  stiffness  of  its  muscles  are  immediately  apparent.  It 
fails  rapidly,  trembles,  pants,  and  sometimes  seems  blind,  as  it  runs 
against  obstacles,  but  this  may  arise  from  vertigo  ;  at  length  it  falls 
down,  lies  on  its  side  quivering,  and  is  not,  perhaps,  able  to  rise  for 
several  hours,  sometimes  never.  Now  and  then,  the  quivering 
amounts  to  a  slight  convulsion.  When  the  disease  is  not  violent,  the 
animal,  after  a  longer  or  shorter  period,  is  again  on  its  feet ;  but  its 
capacity  for  muscular  eff"ort  is  greatly  impaired,  and,  if  hurried  in 
the  slightest  degree,  it  is  seized  with  trembling  and  stiff'ness,  and 
may  even  fall  again.  Of  the  state  of  the  circulation,  when  it  lies 
seriously  ill,  but  little  is  known,  as  the  pulse  has  not  been  inspected. 
One  observer  perceived  that  the  nose  of  a  heifer  was  hot,  but  others 


COW-POX.  419 


have  found  that  part  of  the  skin  generally  cool.  Perhaps  their  ob- 
servations were  made  in  different  stages  of  the  disease.  While  lying 
unable  to  walk,  the  animal  will  still  eat  freely,  and  also  take  drink, 
but  does  not  seem  to  have  excessive  thirst.  Its  costiveness  continues 
to  the  last  when  the  malady  goes  on  to  a  fatal  termination.  Of  the 
symptoms  which  precede  dissolution  we  could  not  obtain  a  satisfactory 
account.  Our  witnesses  generally  declared,  however,  that  the  abdomen 
does  not  swell  in  any  stage  of  the  disease.  When  it  assumes  a 
chronic  form,  the  animal  is  liable,  for  weeks  and  even  months,  to 
muscular  infirmity  under  exercise,  looks  gaunt  and  thin,  its  hair  as- 
sumes a  dead  appearance,  and  sometimes  falls  off  in  considerable 
quantities,  especially  from  the  neck." 

"  We  met  with  no  medical  gentleman  who  had  subjected  animals 
laboring  under  this  disease  to  a  systematic,  or  even  varied  empirical 
treatment.  All  the  people  of  the  district  have  one  and  the  same  indica- 
tion to  fulfill,  that  of  opening  the  bowels.  When  this  can  be  effected 
the  animal,  they  say,  scarcely  ever  dies — when  it  cannot,  death 
occurs.  For  the  fulfillment  of  this  indication,  Epsom  salts  has  been 
administered  in  very  large  quantities,  even  to  pounds,  but  without 
eflfect.  Drenches  of  lard  and  various  mixtures  have  also  been  given, 
with  no  satisfactory  result.  Judge  Harold,  near  South  Charleston, 
has  exhibited  calomel  followed  by  lard — no  essential  benefit.  Dr. 
Toland  has  administered  the  oil  of  turpentine,  in  doses  of  eight, 
twelve,  and  sixteen  ounces,  without  advantage.  An  opinion  is  pre- 
valent, that  drenching  animals  injures  them  by  causing  them  to  strug- 
gle. On  the  whole,  we  found  among  the  people  of  the  district  a 
total  want  of  confidence  in  all  kinds  of  cathartic  medicines  ;  and  an 
exclusive  reliance  on  Indian  corn.  Some  preferred  old  corn,  some 
new,  and  others  that  which  had  been  frost-bitten.  This  is  fed  to  all  these 
species  of  animals  that  are  accustomed  to  eat  it,  and  is  said  never  to 
be  refused.  The  more  the  animal  will  eat,  the  greater  is  the  hope 
of  the  owner.  It  is  said  to  produce  purging,  when  every  other 
means  have  failed,  and  then,  it  is  afifirmed,  recovery  is  almost  certain. 
On  these  points  we  found  but  one  opinion  in  the  district.  Several 
of  its  physicians,  after  trying  other  things,  had,  with  the  people,  set- 
tled down  on  this." 

"  We  found  blood-letting  not  in  favor.  Dr.  Toland  supposes  it  has, 
generally,  been  employed  at  too  late  a  period.  Many  non-professional 
persons  spoke  of  having  resorted  to  it  without  advantage,  and  some 
thought  it  had  done  harm." 

[A  friend  assures  the  editor  that  early  bleeding,  purgation,  and 
injections,  have  proved  effectual  to  remove  the  disease  m  most  cases.] 

COW-POX. 

Cows  are  subject  to  two  distinct  species  of  pustular  eruption  oo 
the  teats.     Little  vesicles  or  bladders  appear ;  they  often  differ  con* 


420  CATTLE. 


siderably  in  size  and  form,  and  are  filled  with  a  purulent  matter.  In 
the  course  of  a  few  days  a  scab  forms  upon  them,  which  peels  off, 
and  the  part  underneath  is  sound.  If  the  pustules  are  rubbed  off  in 
the  act  of  milking,  or  in  any  other  way,  small  ulcers  are  left,  which 
are  very  sore,  and  sometimes  difficult  to  heal. 

The  best  treatment  is  washing  and  fomenting ;  a  dose  of  physic, 
and  the  application  of  the  ointment  for  soie  teats  recommended  in 
page  408.  The  cause,  like  that  of  many  other  pustular  eruptions,  is 
unknown ;  except  that  it  is  contagious,  and  is  readily  communicated 
from  the  cow  to  the  milker,  if  the  hand  be  not  quite  sound,  and  from 
the  milker  to  other  cows. 

There  is  another  kind  of  pustular  eruption,  of  a  more  important 
character,  and  with  which  the  preceding  one  has  been  confounded. 
It  also  consists  of  vesicles  or  bladders  on  the  teats ;  but  they  are 
larger,  round,  with  a  little  central  depression  ;  they  are  tilled  at  first 
•with  a  limpid  fluid,  which  by  degrees  becomes  opaque  and  purulent, 
and  each  of  them  is  surrounded  by  a  broad  circle  of  inflammation. 
This  is  more  decidedly  a  constitutional  disease  than  the  former.  The 
cow  exhibits  evident  symptoms  of  fever  ;  she  does  not  feed  well ; 
sometimes  she  ceases  to  ruminate,  and  the  secretion  of  milk  is  usual- 
ly diminished. 

These  pustules  go  through  a  similar  process  with  the  former 
ones — they  dry  up,  and  at  length  the  scabs  fall  off,  leaving  the  skin 
beneath  sound  ;  but  if  they  are  broken  before  this,  the  ulcers  are 
larger,  deeper,  of  a  more  unhealthy  character,  and  generally  far  more 
difficult  to  heal.     This  is  the  genuine  cow-pox. 

The  treatment  is  nearly  the  same,  except  that,  being  accompanied 
by  more  constitutional  disturbance,  an  aperient  is  more  necessary, 
and  it  may  occasionally  be  prudent  to  abstract  blood.  The  frequent 
application  of  Goulard's  lotion,  with  an  equal  portion  of  spirit  of 
wine,  will,  at  least  in  the  early  stage  of  the  ulcer,  be  preferable  to 
the  ointment ;  but  better  than  this,  and  until  the  ulcers  are  begin- 
ning to  heal,  will  be  the  dilute  solution,  of  the  chloride  of  lime.  If 
the  teats  are  washed  with  this  before  the  cow  is  milked,  it  will  go 
far  toward  preventing  the  communication  of  the  disease. 

The  most  interesting  circumstance  connected  with  this  pustular 
eriiption  is,  that  the  persons  on  whom  it  appeared  were,  for  a  con- 
siderable period,  (it  was  once  thought,  during  life,)  protected  from 
the  small-pox.  This  was  known  among  farmers  from  time  immemo- 
rial. But  to  no  one,  whom  experience  had  convinced  of  the  active 
protective  power  of  the  cow-pox,  had  it  occurred  to  endeavor  to  as- 
certain whether  it  might  not  be  possible  to  propagate  the  affection 
by  innoculation  from  one  human  being  to  another,  and  thus  communi- 
cate security  against  small-pox  at  will. 

To  the  mind  of  Mr.  Jenner,  the  probability  of  accomplishing  this 
first  presented  itself.     He  innoculated  a  boy  with  the  matter  take^ 


COW-POX.  421 


from  the  hands  of  a  milkmaid  who  had  been  infected  The  disease 
was  communicated,  and  with  it  the  immunity  which  he  expected. 
He  multiplied  his  experiments,  and  was  successful  in  all  of  them ; 
and,  at  length,  established  the  power  of  vaccination,  and  proved  him- 
self to  be  one  of  the  greatest  benefactors  to  the  human  race  that 
ever  lived.  Some  practitioners  of  no  little  eminence  have  recom- 
mended (and  perhaps  it  deserves  more  consideration  than  has  been 
given  to  it,  a  return  to  the  primary  fountain  for  a  recruit  of  power 
and  energy,  after  the  lapse  of  a  certain  period  and  the  prosecution  of 
a  certain  number  of  successive  experiments. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE  GENERAL  DISEASES  ANB  MANAGEMENT  OF  CALVES. 

In  whatever  manner  tlie  calf  is  afterwards  to  be  reared,  it  should 
remain  with  the  mother  for  a  few  days  after  it  is  dropped,  and  until 
the  milk  can  be  used  in  the  dairy.  The  little  animal  will  thus  derive 
the  benefit  of  the  first  milk,  that  to  which  nature  has  given  an  ape- 
rient property,  in  order  that  the  black  and  glutinous  faeces  that  had 
been  accumulating  in  the  intestines  during  the  latter  months  of  the 
foetal  state,  might  be  carried  off.  The  farmer  acts  wrongly  when  he 
throws  away,  as  he  is  too  much  in  the  habit  of  doing,  the  beastings, 
or  first  milk  of  the  cow. 

NAVEL-ILL. 

The  calf  being  cleaned,  and  having  begun  to  suck,  the  navel-string 
should  be  examined.  Perhaps  it  may  continue  slowly  to  bleed.  In 
this  case  a  ligature  should  be  passed  round  it  closer,  but,  if  it  can  be 
avoided,  not  quite  close  to  the  belly.  Possibly  the  spot  at  which  the 
division  of  the  cord  took  place  may  be  more  than  usually  sore.  A 
pledget  of  tow  well  wetted  with  Friar's  balsam  should  be  pl?»ced 
over  it,  confined  with  a  bandage,  and  changed  every  morning  and 
night,  but  the  caustic  applications,  that  are  so  frequently  resorted  to, 
should  be  avoided. 

Sometimes,  when  there  has  been  previous  bleeding,  and  especially 
if  the  caustic  has  been  used  to  arrest  the  haemorrhage,  and  at  other 
times,  when  all  things  have  seemed  to  have  been  going  on  well,  inflam- 
mation suddenly  appears  about  the  navel,  between  the  third  and 
eighth  or  tenth  day.  There  is  a  little  swelling  of  the  part,  but  with 
more  redness  and  tenderness  than  such  a  degree  of  enlargement 
would  indicate.  Although  there  may  be  nothing  in  the  first  appear- 
ance of  this  to  excite  alarm,  the  navel-ill  is  a  far  more  serious  business 
than  some  imagine.  Fomentation  of  the  part  in  order  to  disperse  the 
tumor,  the  opening  of  it  with  a  lancet  if  it  evidently  points,  and  the 
administration  of  two  or  three  two-ounce  doses  of  castor  oil,  made 
into  an  emulsion  by  means  of  an  egg,  will  constitute  the  first  treat- 
ment ;  but  if,  when  the  inflammation  abates,  extreme  weakness  should 
come  on,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  gentian  and  laudanum,  with,  per- 
haps, a  small  quantity  of  port  wine,  should  be  administered. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — In  inflammation  give  some  doses  of  aeon- 


CONSTIPATION. 


itum  ;  and  then  arnica,  and  wash  the  parts  with  arnica  water ;  and 
if  there  be  weakness,  give  china  to  combat  it. 


CONSTIPATION. 


If  the  first  milk,  or  heastings,  has  been  taken  from  the  calf,  and 
constipation,  from  that,  or  from  any  other  cause,  succeeds,  an  aperient 
should  be  administered  without  delay.  The  sticky  black  faeces,  with 
which  the  bowels  of  the  newly-born  calf  are  often  loaded,  must  be 
got  rid  of.  Castor  oil  is  the  safest  and  the  most  effectual  aperient 
for  so  young  an  animal.  It  should  be  given,  mixed  up  with  the  yolk 
of  an  egg,  or  in  thick  gruel,  in  doses  of  two  or  three  ounces  ;  and 
even  at  this  early  age,  the  carminative  which  forms  so  usual  and 
indisj)ensab]e  an  ingredient  in  the  physic  of  cattle  must  not  be  omitted ; 
a  scruple  of  ginger  should  be  added  to  the  oil. 

Constipation  of  another  kind  may  be  prevented,  but  rarely  cured. 
If  the  weather  will  permit,  and  the  cow  is  turned  out  during  the  day, 
and  the  calf  with  her,  the  young  one  may  suck  as  often  and  as  mucn 
as  it  pleases — the  exercise  which  it  takes  with  its  mother,  and  the 
small  quantity  of  green  meat  which  it  soon  begins  to  crop,  will  keep 
it  healthy  ;  but  if  it  be  under  shelter  with  its  dam,  and  lies  quiet  and 
sleepy  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  some  restraint  must  be  put  upon 
it.  It  must  be  tied  in  a  corner  of  the  hovel,  and  not  permitted  to 
suck  more  than  three  times  during  tlie  day,  otherwise  it  will  take 
more  milk  than  its  weak  digestive  powers  will  be  able  to  dispose  of, 
and  which  will  coagulate,  and  form  a  hardened  mass,  and  fill  the 
stomach  and  destroy  the  animal.  The  quantity  of  this  hardened  curd 
which  has  someildies  been  taken  from  the  fourth  stomach  almost 
exceeds  belief.  This  is  particularly  the  case  when  a  foster-mother, 
that  probably  had  calved  several  weeks  before,  is  given  to  the  little 
one,  or  the  calf  has  too  early  been  fed  with  the  common  milk  of  the 
dairy.  The  only  chance  of  success  in  this  disease  hes  in  the  frequent 
administration  (by  means  of  the  stomach-pump,  or  the  drink  poured 
gently  down  from  a  small  horn)  of  plenty  of  warm  water,  two  ounces 
of  Epsom  salt  being  dissolved  in  the  quantity  used  at  each  adminis- 
tration. 

At  a  later  period,  the  calf  is  sometimes  suffered  to  feed  too  plenti- 
fully on  hay,  before  the  manyplus  has  acquired  sufficient  power  to 
grind  down  the  fibrous  portions  of  it.  This  will  be  indicated  by  dull- 
ness, fever,  enlargement  of  the  belly,  and  the  cessation  of  rumination, 
but  no  expression  of  extreme  pain.  The  course  pursued  must  be  the 
same.  The  manyplus  must  be  emptied,  either  by  washing  it  out,  by 
the  frequent  passage  of  warm  water  through  it,  or  by  stimulating  it 
to  greater  action,  through  the  means  of  the  sympathetic  influence  of 
a  purgative  on  the  fourth  stomach  and  the  intestinal  canal. 

A  tendency  to  costiveness  in  a  calf  should  be  obviated  as  speedily 
as  possible — it  is  inconsistent  with  the  natural  and  profitable  thriving 


424  CATTLE. 


of  the  animal,  and  it  can  never  long  exist  without  inducing  a  degree 
of  fever,  always  dangerous,  and  generally  fatal. 

Homxxopathic  treatment. — The  more  or  less  inflammatory  state 
which  generally  accompanies  it,  requires  that  we  commence  the 
treatment  with  a  dose  of  aconitum.  The  most  effectual  means  then 
is  nux  vomica;  it  is  indicated  chiefly,  when  the  evacuations  from  the 
bowels  are  scanty,  hard,  covered  with  mucus,  and  when  the  animal 
frequently  draws  up  the  belly.  If  there  be  no  thirst,  we  should  have 
recourse  to  china  and  hryonia.  The  latter  remedy  is  also  suitable 
when  the  constipation  has  been  produced  by  cold,  a  circumstance  in 
which  it  frequently  alternates  with  diarrhoea.  Opium  and  argila 
must  be  employed  when  the  inactive  state  of  the  intestinal  tube  allows 
nothing  to  escape  from  the  body,  and  the  animal  remains  lying  down, 
though  evincing  no  pain.  Tn  very  obstinate  constipation,  where  the 
rectum  is  empty,  and  also  where  only  a  small  quantity  of  matter 
escapes,  which  is  not  very  hard,  plumbum  never  fails  to  be  efifectual. 

DIARRH(EA. 

The  disease,  however,  to  which  calves  are  most  liable,  and  which 
is  most  fatal  to  them,  is  purging.  It  arises  from  various  causes  :  the 
milk  of  the  mother  may  not  agree  with  the  young  one  ;  it  may  be  of 
too  poor  a  nature,  and  then  it  produces  that  disposition  to  acidity, 
which  is  so  easily  excited  in  the  fourth  stomach  and  the  intestines  of 
the  calf;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  too  old  and  rich,  and  tffe 
stomach,  weakened  by  the  attempt  to  convert  it  into  healthy  chyle, 
secretes  or  permits  the  development  of  an  acid  fluid.  It  is  the  result 
of  starvation  and  of  excess — it  is  the  almost  necessary  consequence  of 
a  sudden  change  of  diet ;  in  fact,  it  is  occasionally  produced  by  every 
thing  that  deranges  the  process  of  healthy  digestion. 

The  farmer  needs  not  to  be  alarmed  although  the  faeces  should 
become  thin,  and  continue  so  during  two  or  three  days,  if  the  animal 
is  as  lively  as  usual,  and  feeds  as  he  was  wont ;  but  if  he  begins  to 
droop,  if  he  refuses  his  food,  if  rumination  ceases,  and  he  is  in  evident 
pain,  and  mucus,  and  perhaps  blood,  begin  to  mingle  with  the  dung, 
and  that  is  far  more  fetid  than  in  its  natural  state,  not  an  hour  should 
be  lost.  The  proper  treatment  has  already  been  described  under  the 
titles  of  diarrhoea  and  dysentery,  pp.^338,  339.  A  mild  purgative 
(two  ounces  of  castor  oil,  or  three  of  Epsom  salt)  should  first  be 
administered,  to  carry  away  the  cause  of  the  disturbed  state  of  the 
bowels.  To  this  should  follow  anodyne  and  astringent  and  alkaline 
medicines,  with  a  mild  carminative.  The  whole  will  consist  of  opium, 
catechu,  chalk,  and  ginger.  The  proportions  of  each  have  already 
been  given  in  p.  339,  when  describing  the  treatment  of  diarrhoea. 
1'he  use  of  this  mixture  should  be  accompanied  by  frequent  drenching 
with  starch  or  thick  gruel ;  by  the  removal  of  green  or  acescent  food, 
and  by  giving  bran  mashes,  with  a  little  pea  or  bean  flour. 


HOOSE.  423 


Homceopathic  treatment. — The  cure  of  diarrhoea  is  effected  by 
diflferent  means.  In  the  diarrhoea  which  bursts  out  suddenly,  or  the 
acute  form,  we  should  commence  with  a  couple  of  doses  of  aconitum 
at  short  intervals  ;  after  which,  in  most  cases,  arsenicum  and  ipeca- 
cuanha are  very  eflfectual.  The  diarrhoea  brought  on  by  cold  often 
yields  to  aconitum  alone,  as  that  resulting  from  any  irregularity  in 
diet  yields  to  arsenic.  If  in  the  latter  case  there  be  also  loss  of 
appetite,  and  if  arsenic  does  not  effect  a  cure,  pulsatilla  should  Idc 
given,  or  when  there  is  an  absolute  repugnance  to  food,  antimonium 
crudum,  especially  when  the  diarrhoea  alternates  periodically  with 
constipation.  If  there  be  frequent  dejections  without  pain,  we  have 
recourse  to  rheum.  Asarum  is  useful,  if  the  evacuations  are  fluid, 
and  sometimes  mixed  with  bloody  mucus. 

In  the  treatment  of  chronic  diarrhoea,  besides  china,  sulphur,  cha- 
momilla,  and  veratrum,  which  has  been  found  useful  more  than  once, 
we  should  employ  acidum  yhosphoricum,  hryonia,  calcarea  acetica, 
dulcamara,  magnesia  carhonica,  petroleum,  and  phosphorus.  Diarrhoea 
is  usually  accompanied  with  a  general  morbid  state,  with  respect  to 
which  we  are  to  choose,  among  these  several  means,  that  which  suits 
best.  Sulphur  aad  arsenicum  are  the^rincipal  remedies  for  diarrhoea 
in  calves. 

When  slight,  dysentery  resembles  severe  diarrhoea,  and  requires 
the  remedies  which  have  been  indicated  under  the  head  of  the  lattei 
disease. 

In  calves,  diarrhoea,  accompanied  with  emaciation  and  loss  of  appe- 
tite, very  often  puts  on  the  dysenteric  character ;  the  animal  every 
moment  passes  liquid  matter  of  a  greenish  or  yellowish  color.  In  such 
case,  Pulsatilla  is  a  specific.  Benefit  has  also  been  obtained  from 
chamomilla,  and,  when  the  evacuations  were  white,  from  mercwrius 
vivus. 

HOOSE. 

A  sufficiently  alarming  view  has  been  given  of  this  disease  in  adult 
cattle,  but  calves  are  even  more  subject  to  it ;  it  takes  on  in  them  a 
more  dangerous  character,  and  more  speedily  terniinates  in  wasting 
and  in  death.  Hoose  often  assumes  an  epidemic  form  in  cattle  of  a 
twelvemonth  old  and  upward;  it  often  appears  as  an  epidemic  among 
calves,  and  carries  off  great  numbers  of  them.  The  treatment  recom- 
mended for  grown  cattle  under  the  article  Hoose,  in  p.  248,  (fee, 
should,  with  such  deviation  as  the  difi"erent  age  and  situation  of  the 
beast  require,  be  adopted  here.  The  bleeding,  perhaps,  should  not 
be  carried  to  so  great  an  extent,  and  even  somewhat  more  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  comfort  of  the  animal. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — That  which  is  at  first  dull  and  hollow, 
excited  by  the  least  efi'ort,  and  more  particularly  violent  after  the 
animal  has  drunk,  generally  indicates  a  more  or  less  serious  aflfectioQ 


«28  CATTLE. 


of  the  lung.  The  means  to  be  adopted  when  no  other  symptoms  of 
disease  are  observed,  are  :  dulcaynara,  in  cough  by  cold  ;  bryonia  (in 
repeated  doses,)  in  inveterate  cough  ;  Belladonna  and  drosera,  in 
chronic  cough  ;  hyoscyamus  when  the  attacks  are  very  frequent ; 
sqiiilla,  in  cough  which  comes  on  after  fatigue,  and  which  interferes 
with  the  respiration;  O hamoinilla,  in  dry  cough,  with  diarrhoea; 
Pulsatilla,  in  frequent  attacks  of  dry  cough,  with  loss  of  appetite; 
spiritus  sulphuratis  in  very  obstinate  cough.  When  the  cough  is  the 
symptom  of  another  disease,  it  yields  to  the  treatment  required  by 
the  latter. 

CASTRATION. 

The  period  pretty  generally  selected  is  between  the  first  and  third 
months.  The  nearer  it  is  to  the  expiration  of  the  first  month,  the 
less  danger  attends  the  operation. 

Some  persons  prepare  the  animals  by  the  administration  of  a  dose 
of  physic  ;  but  others  proceed  at  once  to  the  operation  when  it  best 
suits  their  convenience,  or  that  of  the  farmer.  Care,  however,  should 
be  taken  that  the  young  animal  is  in  perfect  health.  The  mode 
formerly  practised  was  simple  enough  : — a  piece  of  whipcord  was  tied 
as  tightly  as  possible  round  the  scrotum.  The  supply  of  blood  being 
thus  completely  cut  off,  the  bag  and  its  contents  soon  became  livid 
and  dead,  and  were  suffered  to  hang,  by  some  careless  operators, 
until  they  dropped  off,  or  were  cut  off  on  the  second  or  third  day. 

It  is  now,  however,  the  general  practice  to  grasp  the  scrotum  in  the 
hand,  between  the  testicles  and  the  belly,  and  to  make  an  incision  on 
one  side  of  it,  near  the  bottom,  of  sufificient  depth  to  penetrate  through 
the  inner  covering  of  the  testicle,  and  long  enough  to  admit  of  its 
escape.  The  testicle  immediately  bursts  from  its  bag,  and  is  seen 
hanging  by  its  cord. 

The  careless  or  brutal  operator  now  firmly  ties  a  piece  of  small 
string  round  the  cord,  and  having  thus  stopped  the  circulation,  cuts 
through  the  cord  half  an  inch  below  the  ligature,  and  removes  the 
testicle.  He,  however,  who  has  any  feeling  for  the  poor  animal  on 
which  he  is  operating,  considers  that  the  only  use  of  the  ligature  is  to 
compress  the  blood-vessels  and  prevent  after-hemorrhage,  and  there- 
fore saves  a  great  deal  of  unnecessary  torture,  by  including  them 
alone  in  the  ligature,  and  afterwards  dividing  the  rest  of  the  cord. 
The  other  testicle  is  proceeded  with  in  the  same  way,  and  the  opera- 
tion is  complete.  The  length  of  the  cord  should  be  so  contrived  thai 
It  shall  immediately  retract  into  the  scrotum,  but  not  higher,  while 
the  ends  of  the  string  hang  out  through  the  wounds.  In  the  course 
of  about  a  week  the  strings  will  usually  drop  off,  and  the  wounds 
will  speedily  heal.  It  will  be  rarely  that  any  application  to  the 
scrotum  will  be  necessary,  except  fomentation  of  it,  if  much  swelling 
should  ensue. 


CASTRATION.  427 


A  few,  but  their  practice  cannot  be  justified,  seize  the  testicle  as 
soon  as  it  escapes  from  the  bag,  and,  pulling  violently,  break  the 
cord  and  tear  it  out.  It  is  certain  that  when  a  blood-vessel  is  thus 
ruptured,  it  forcibly  contracts,  and  very  little  bleeding  follows  ;  but 
if  tlie  cord  breaks  high  up  and  retracts  into  the  belly,  considerable 
inflammation  has  occasionally  ensued,  and  the  beast  lias  been  lost. 

The  application  of  torsion,  or  the  twisting  of  the  arteries  by  means 
of  a  pair  of  forceps  which  will  firmly  grasp  them,  promises  to  su- 
persede every  other  mode  of  castration,  both  in  the  larger  and  the 
smaller  domesticated  animals.  The  spermatic  artery  is  exposed,  and 
seized  with  the  forceps,  which  are  then  closed  by  a  very  simple  me- 
chanical contrivance  ;  the  vessel  is  drawn  a  little  out  from  its  sur- 
rounding tissue,  the  forceps  are  turned  round  seven  or  eight  times, 
and  the  vessel  liberated.  It  will  be  found  perfectly  closed  ;  a  small 
knot  will  have  formed  on  its  extremity ;  it  will  retract  into  the  sur- 
rounding substance,  and  not  a  drop  more  of  blood  will  flow  from  it : 
the  cord  may  then  be  divided,  and  the  bleeding  from  any  little 
vessel  arrested  in  the  same  way.  Neither  the  application  of  the  hot 
iron  nor  of  the  wooden  clamps,  whether  with  or  without  caustic,  can 
be  necessary  in  the  castration  of  the  calf. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — After  the  operation,  give  some  doses  of 
arnica,  -ind  wash  the  parts  with  arnica  water. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  LUSCULAR  SYSTEM  AND  OP 
THE  EXTREMITIES. 

RHEUMATISM. 

It  is  inflammation  of  the  fascia,  or  cellular  coat  of  the  muscles,  and 
also  of  the  ligaments  and  synovial  membranes  of  the  joints.  If  a 
cow  has  been  exposed  to  unusual  cold  and  wet,  particularly  after 
calving,  or  too  soon  after  recovery  from  serious  illness,  she  will  often, 
be  perceived  to  droop.  She  becomes  listless,  unwilling  to  move, 
and  by  degrees  gets  off  her  feed.  If  urged  to  move,  there  is  a 
marked  stiffness  in  her  action,  at  first  referable  chiefly,  or  almost 
entirely,  to  the  spine ;  and  she  walks  as  if  all  the  articulations  of  the 
back  and  loins  had  lost  their  power  of  motion.  She  shrinks  when 
pressed  on  the  loins ;  and  the  stiffness  gradually  spreads  to  the  fore 
or  hind  limbs.  The  farmer  calls  \i  chine  fellon  ;  if  it  gets  a  little 
worse,  it  acquires  the  name  oi  joint  fellon,  and  worse,  unless  care  is 
taken,  it  speedily  will  become.  Some  of  the  joints  swell ;  they  are 
hot  and  tender ;  the  animal  can  scarcely  bend  them ;  and  she  cannot 
move  without  difficulty  and  evident  pain. 

We  find  rheumatism  in  cattle  chiefly  prevalent  in  a  cold,  marshy 
country — in  places  exposed  to  the  coldest  winds — in  spring  and  in 
autumn,  when  there  is  the  greatest  vicissitude  of  heat  and  cold — in 
animals  that  have  been  debiUtated  by  insufficient  diet,  and  that  can- 
not withstand  the  influence  of  sudden  changes  of  temperature — in 
old  cattle  particularly,  and  such  as  have  been  worked  hard,  and  then 
turned  out  into  the  cold  air,  with  the  perspiration  still  hanging  about 
them. 

It  seems  to  assume  the  acute  and  the  chronic  form.  One  animal 
will  labor  under  considerable  fever ;  he  will  scarcely  be  able  to  move 
at  all,  or  when  he  does,  it  extorts  from  him  an  expression  of  suffer- 
ing. Another  seems  to  be  gay  and  w^ell,  when  the  air  is  warm  and 
dry  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  wind  shifts,  or  immediately  before  it  changes, 
he  is  uneasy  and  comparatively  helpless.  On  some  portions  of  a 
farm,  nothing  seems  to  ail  the  cattle ;  on  otiiers,  lower,  moister,  or 
more  exposed,  the  cattle  crawl  about  stiffly  and  in  pain.     In  some 


SWELLING  OF  THE  JOINTS.  428 

extreme  cases,  the  quantity  of  milk  rapidly  diminishes,  and  the  cow 
wastes  away,  and  becomes  a  mere  skeleton. 

Rheumatism  in  cattle  may  be  palliated,  but  rarely  removed.  The 
treatment  of  it  consists  in  making  the  animal  comfortable — in  shel- 
tering her  from  the  causes  of  the  complaint — in  giving  her  a  warm 
aperient,  which,  while  it  acts  upon  the  bowels,  may  determine  to 
the  skin,  as  sulphur,  with  the  full  quantity  of  gin/^^er.  The  prac- 
titioner will  afterwards  give  that  which  will  yet  more  determine  to 
the  skin,  as  antimonial  powder,  combined  with  an  anodyne  medicine, 
almost  any  preparation  of  opium  ; — and  he  will  h?.ve  recourse  to  an 
embrocation  stimulating  to  the  skin,  and  thus  probably  relieving  the 
deeper  seated  pain,  as  camphoretted  oil,  or  spirit  of  turpentine  and 
laudanum. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — ^The  most  effectual  remedy  is  aconitumy 
followed  by  arsenicum.  Bryonia  is  good  when  the  feet  are  paralyzed. 
Arseriicum  is  indicated  when  tlie  animal  is  observed  to  walk  with  the 
greatest  precaution,  when  he  trembles  after  drinking  cold  water, 
and  the  disease  has  been  brought  on  by  cold  drinks,  or  an  excess  of 
food.  Rhus  toxicodendron  should  be  prescribed  when  the  disease 
results  from  too  much  fatigue.  Chamomilla  restores  the  milk  secre- 
tion, after  the  other  ailments  have  been  removed. 

SWELLINGS   OF  THE  JOINTS. 

These  are  usually  the  consequence  of  rheumatism.  Small  tumors 
appear  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  joints  that  were  most  affected. 
They  seem  at  first  to  belong  to  the  muscles  ;  but  they  increase :  they 
involve  the  tendons  of  the  muscles,  and  then  the  ligaments  of  the 
ioints,  and  the  hning  membrane  of  the  joints.  When  this  is  the  case, 
other  diseases  are  at  hand — inflammation  of  the  lungs  or  bowels; 
but,  oftenest  of  all,  rheumatism  degenerates  into  palsy. 

The  superficial  veins  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  joints  sometimes 
become  full  and  large ;  they  grow  decidedly  varicose.  When  the 
causes  of  rheumatism  are  removed,  the  situation  of  the  animal 
changed,  and  the  weather  has  become  more  congenial,  the  lameness 
decreases,  the  swellings  diminish,  but  the  varicose  veins  remain. 

The  enlargements  of  the  joints  connected  with  or  the  consequences 
of  rheumatism  are  lemoved — but  in  the  majority  of  cases  only  tempo- 
rarily— by  stimulating  embrocations,  of  which  spirit  of  turpentine  or 
the  compound  one  of  turpentine,  ammonia,  camphoretted  spirit,  and 
laudanum,  is  the  most  effectual.  Some,  however,  will  not  disappear 
without  the  application  of  the  cautery. 

There  are  other  tumors  about  the  joints,  and  particularly  the  knees 
of  cattle,  which  are  not  necessarily  connected  with  rheumatism,  and 
in  many  cases  quite  independent  of  it,  although  they  are  found  only 
in  beasts  that  are  out  at  pasture.  i'hey  are  of  two  kinds.  The  first 
occupies  the  fore-part  of  the  knee,  and  generally  one  knee  at  a  tima 


430  CAITLE. 


A  fluid  collects  in  the  tissue  immediately  beneath  the  skin,  and  which 
yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  finger.  The  pressure  causes  no  pain, 
nor  is  there  any  inflammation  of  the  skin,  but  there  is  some  degree* 
of  lameness.  The  tumors  insensibly  increase ;  they  still  contain  a 
fluid.  Inflammation  is  now  sufiiciently  evident :  the  lameness  is  very 
great ;  and  the  motion  of  the  joint  is  almost  destroyed. 

Frictions  with  turpentine  and  hartshorn  are  often  employed  :  some- 
times one  composed  of  tincture  of  cantharides  is  used.  These  occa- 
sionally disj)erse  the  tumors  for  a  while,  but  ihey  speedily  reappear. 
The  hot  iron  is  a  more  eff'ectual  remedy.  If  the  tumor  be  pierced 
with  it,  a  glairy  fluid  escapes,  and  the  swelling  subsides.  A  blister 
should  then  be  applied,  and  the  animal  kept  in  the  cow-house.  The 
tumor  does  not  often  return,  but  it  is  a  considerable  time  before  the 
lameness  quite  disappears. 

A  more  frequent  species  of  tumor  is  of  a  hard  character.  It  does 
not  yield  at  ail  to  pressure ;  it  evidently  causes  considerable  pain, 
and  the  animal  is  very  lame.  These  tumors  are  almost  invariably 
confined  to  one  knee.  Here,  neither  frictions  nor  perforation  with 
the  hot  iron  will  be  of  material  benefit,  although  deep  firing  has 
sometimes  succeeded. 

Other  tumors,  sometimes  immediately  on  the  joints,  and  at  other 
times  at  a  greater  or  less  distance  from  them,  and  of  variable  degrees 
of  hardness  ;  sometimes  adhering  to  and  identified  w^ith  the  substance 
beneath,  and  at  other  times  more  or  less  pendulous,  do  not  appear 
to-  give  much  pain  to  the  animal,  nor  do  they  often  interfere  with  the 
motion  of  the  joints,  but  they  are  a  great  eyesore,  and,  in  a  few  in- 
stances, they  suddenly  take  on  a  disposition  to  increase  with  great 
rapidity.  These  have  been  blistered  without  effect — setons  Irave 
been  passed  through  them  with  variable  result,  and  occasionally  re- 
course has  been  had  to  excision. 

The  ointment  of  the  hydriodate  of  potash  should  be  ^vell  rubbed 
into  the  tumors  and  the  neighboring  parts  ;  and  the  hydriodate  at 
the  same  time  be  administered  internally.  'J'he  success  of  this  treat- 
ment with  the  two  last  species  of  tumors  has  been  almost  as  great 
as  the  practitioner  could  desire.  They  have  uniformly  very  much  di- 
minished in  size,  and  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  they  have  dis- 
appeared. The  ointment  should  be  composed  as  already  recom- 
mended, and  six  grains  of  the  hydriodate  given  morning  and  night  in 
a  mash.  On  the  first  species  of  tumor  unconnected  with  rheumatism, 
the  iodine  has  seldom  had  decided  effect. 

Ho'iTioeopathic  treatment. — Tumors  vary  much  with  respect  to  their 
constitution  and  the  region  of  the  body  where  they  make  their  ap- 
pearance. Those  arising  from  an  external  cause,  are,  for  the  most 
part,  hot,  at  least  at  the  commencement ;  these  are  to  be  treated 
with  arnica  (internally  and  externally),  which  is  to  be  followed  by 
arsenicum,  or,  when  there  is  pain,  by  conium.     Those  which  depend 


OPENED  JOINTS.  431 


on  internal  causes,  require  hryonia,  chiefly  in  cases  of  cold,  or  china 
and  arsenicum  alternately,  or  sulphur,  or  mercurius  vivus. 

Aurum  and  belladonna  are  the  principal  remedies  for  tumors  on 
the  head  ;  baryta  carbonica  for  those  on  the  lower  jaw.  With  respect 
to  tumors  on  the  chest,  aconitum  and  bryonia  are  suitable,  if  they 
are  owing  to  cold ;  arnica,  if  they  are  the  consequence  of  compres- 
sion. When  they  are  covered  with  scabs,  thuja  should  be  given,  and, 
after  some  days,  sulphur. 

ULCERS  ABOUT    THE  JOINTS. 

These  tumors  sometimes  assume  very  much  the  appearance  of 
farcy  in  the  horse.  They  run  in  lines,  they  follow  the  apparent  course 
of  the  veins,  but  they  belong  to  the  absorbents.  They  frequently 
ulcerate — the  ^vounds  are  painful,  deep,  and  spreading. 

The  dilute  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime  will  form  the  best 
application,  and  will  usually  be  successful ;  especially  if  occasionally 
aided  by  some  caustic  wash,  as  a  solution  of  blue  vitriol,  or  dilute 
nitric  acid. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — In  ulcers  which  suppurate,  the  principal 
means  are  :  arsenicum,  internally  and  externally,  if  the  edges  are 
painful,  everted,  inflamed,  with  unhealthy  pus  ;  silicea,  if  the  pus  is 
thick  and  of  a  bad  color ;  chamomilla,  sepia,  and  antimonium,  when 
proud  flesh  becomes  developed  on  it.  Pulsatilla  possesses  specific 
virtues  in  the  case  of  fistulous  ulcers.  The  following  substances  as 
intercurrent  remedies  :  ledum  palustre,  when  the  fistulas  have  an 
opening  sufficiently  large,  and  the  bottom  is  white  and  lardaceous 
calcarea  carbonica,  a  capital  remedy  in  all  forms  of  fistulae  ;  lycopo- 
dium,  when  the  orifice  is  small  and  there  are  numerous  burrows  ; 
these  remedies  are  interposed  when  the  repeated  doses  of  pulsatilla 
no  longer  bring  about  improvement,  and  about  four  days  after  we 
should  recur  to  the  latter.  Occasionally  it  is  necessary  to  employ,  in 
addition,  several  intercurrent  remedies. 

OPENED  JOINTS. 

These  sometimes  occur  from  the  injudicious  lancing  of  the  first 
kind  of  tumor,  but  oftener  from  accident.  The  principle  of  the  treat- 
ment of  open  joints  is  to  close  the  orifice  as  soon  as  possible,  and  be- 
fore the  secretiQn  of  the  joint  oil  is  stopped,  and  the  cartilages  of  the 
opposing  bones  rub  on  each  other,  and  the  delicate  membrane  which 
hnes  these  oartilages  becomes  inflamed,  and  the  animal  suflPers  ex- 
treme torture,  and  a  degree  of  fever  ensues  by  which  he  is  speedily 
destroyed.     The  w^ound  is  best  closed  by  means  of  the  firing  iron. 

Homctopathic  treatment. — Wounds  of  "small  extent  are  cured  in  a 
very  little  time  by  the  use  of  arnica  externally.  In  such  as  are 
deeper,  arnica  must  be  administered  internally  also.  Symphytum  is 
useful  whenever  there  has  been  any  lesion  of  the  bones  or  peri- 


432  CATTLE. 

osteum.  Conium  should  be  employed  in  the  case  of  wounds  result- 
ing from  compression  or  contusion  ;  and  in  the  case  of  those  which 
are  accompanied  with  luxation,  rhus  toxicodendron  alternately  with 
arnica.  When  a  wound  has  occasioned  great  loss  of  blood,  china  is 
useful  to  combat  the  debility  caused  by  the  haemorrhage.  The  fever, 
which  is  generally  associated  with  wounds  of  a  certain  extent,  yields 
to  arnica  and  aconifum,  employed  alternately.  Extensive  wounds 
are  never  cured  without  suppuration  ;  this  is  generally  set  up  five  or 
six  days  after  the  injury ;  and  as  long  as  it  wears  a  healthy  character, 
art  should  not  interfere ;  but  if  the  pus  be  turbid  and  have  a  bad 
smell,  asafcetida  and  mercurius  vivus  should  be  employed  ;  if  it  be 
thick  and  have  a  bad  color,  silicea  ;  if  proud-flesh  make  its  appear- 
ance, chamomilla,  sepia,  and  arsenicum, 

SPRAINS, 

Working  oxen,  and  those  that  have  been  driven  long  journeys,  are 
liable  to  sprain,  and  particularly  of  the  fetlock  joint.  The  division 
of  the  lower  part  of  the  cannon  or  shank-bone,  in  order  that  it  may 
articulate  with  the  two  pasterns  into  which  the  leg  is  divided,  renders 
this  joint  particularly  weak  and  susceptible  of  injury.  The  treat- 
ment consists  of  fomentation  of  the  part,  to  which  should  succeed 
bandages  very  gradually  increasing  in  tightness,  cold  lotions,  and 
afterwards,  if  the  deep-seated  inflammation  cannot  otherwise  be  sub- 
dued, stimulating  applications,  blistering,  or,  as  the  last  resource, 
firing.  The  inflammation  attending  sprain  of  this  joint  is  often  very 
great,  and  enormous  bony  enlargement  and  anchylosis  are  not  unfre- 
quently  seen.  They  embrace  the  fetlock-joint ;  they  frequently 
include  the  pastern :  but  oftener,  the  inflammation  and  bony  enlarge- 
ment extend  up  the  leg,  and  particularly  the  posterior  part  of  it, 
almost  to  knee  ;  for  the  division  of  the  flexor  tendons,  in  order  to 
reach  both  toes,  takes  place  considerably  above  the  fetlock  (the  pre- 
cise place  varying  in  different  animals),  and  these,  from  the  oblique 
direction  which  they  take,  are  peculiarly  liable  to  strain,  with  proba- 
bility of  serious  injury.  The  firing  iron  must  be  severely  applied 
before  the  mischief  has  proceeded  to  this  extent. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — A  sprain,  when  the  result  of  a  false  step, 
brings  on  lameness  more  or  less  perceptible,  and,  when  it  is  severe,  a 
hot  tumefaction  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  joint,  •  The  accident, 
when  of  recent  date,  promptly  yields  to  arnica,  employed  both  in- 
ternally and  externally.  Otherwise,  or  if  there  be  much  pain  from 
the  commencement,  as  also  much  swelling  and  lameness,  rhus  toxi- 
codendron, and  especially  ruta,  should  be  administered,  which  latter 
remedy  in  such  cases  possesses  specific  virtues. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  FEET. 

These  are  numerous  and  serious.     The  leg  of  tne  ox  is  divided  at 


FOUL  IN  THE  FOOT. 


the  fetlock.  There  are  two  sets  of  pasterns,  two  coffin-bones,  and 
two  hoofs  to  each  leg.  The  shank-bone  is  double  in  the  foetus,  but 
the  cartilaginous  substance  between  the  tw^o  larger  metacarpals  is 
afterwards  absorbed,  and  they  become  one  bone ;  the  lower  bones, 
liowever,  continue  separate.  Each  division  has  its  own  ligaments 
and  tendons,  and  is  covered  by  its  own  integument.  This  gives  rise 
to  various  inflammations  and  lamenesses,  which  have  been  confounded 
under  the  very  objectionable  term  of 

FOUL    IN    THE    FOOT. 

Hard  and  irritating  substances  often  insinuate  themselves  between 
the  claws,  and,  becomingr  fixed  there,  and  woundinsf  the  claws  on  on(» 
or  both  sides,  become  a  source  of  great  annoyance,  pain,  and  inflam- 
mation, and  the  beast  suddenly  becomes  lame,  and  the  pasterns  are 
much  swelled.  They  sliould  be  carefully  examined,  the  interposed 
substance  should  be  removed,  the  wound  washed  thoroughly  clean, 
and  a  pledget  of  tow,  dipped  in  Friar's  balsam,  or  covered  with  heal- 
ing ointment,  introduced  between  the  cUws,  and  there  confined  by 
means  of  a  roller.  Lameness  from  this  cause  will,  in  general,  be 
readily  removed. 

The  foot  being  thus  divided,  and  the  ox  unexpectedly  treading  on 
an  uneven  surface,  or  being  compelled  long  to  do  so  when  ploughing 
a  steep  field,  the  weight  of  the  animal  will  be  unequally  distributed 
on  the  pasterns,  and  severe  sprain  will  be  the  result.  This  is  indi- 
cated by  the  sudden  lameness  which  comes  on,  and  by  the  swelling, 
and  heat,  and  tenderness  being  confined  to  one  claw,  and  referable  to 
the  fetlock  or  pastern,  or  coffin-joints.  Rest  and  fomentation,  or  the 
application  of  cold,  with  bleeding  from  the  veins  of  the  coronet,  will 
usually  remove  this  kind  of  lameness.  The  bleeding  may  be  easily 
effected  by  means  of  a  small  fleam  or  lancet,  for  the  veins  of  the 
foot  of  the  ox  are  large  and  tortuous,  and  rise  distinctly  above  the 
coronet,  and  climb  up  the  pastern.  It  is  the  increased  vascularity 
which  often  gives  so  serious  a  character  to  sprains  of  the  coffin  or 
pastern-joints  in  the  ox,  and  disposes  to  stiff'ness  of  these  joints. 

The  foot  of  the  ox,  or  that  part  which  is  enclosed  within  the  homy 
box,  is  liable  to  the  same  injuries  and  diseases  as  that  of  the  horse  ; 
but  they  generally  are  not  so  difficult  to  treat,  nor  do  they  produce 
such  destructive  consequences,  because  the  weight  of  the  animal 
being  divided  between  the  two  claws,  the  first  concussion  or  injury 
is  not  so  great,  and  the  animal  is  able  afterwards  to  spare  the  injured 
claw,  by  throwing  a  considerable  portion  or  the  whole  of  the  weight 
on  the  sound  one.  Injuries  of  the  feet  arise  from  pricking  in  shoeing, 
wounds  from  nails  or  glass,  or  from  the  sole  being  bruised,  and  some- 
times the  horn  being  worn  almost  through,  by  travelling  or  working 
on  hard  roads. 

19 


434  CATTLE. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  there  is  a  constitutional  tendency  to 
diseases  of  the  foot  in  cattle,  resembling  the  rot  in  sheep  ;  but  this 
has  never  been  satisfactorily  proved,  and  the  simplest  explanation  of 
the  matter  is,  that  inflammation  was  produced  by  some  external 
cause ;  that  it  ran  its  usual  course  ;  that  suppuration  followed,  and 
matter  was  formed  ;  that  it  burrowed  in  various  parts  of  the  foot, 
and  broke  out  at  the  coronet ;  that  sinuses  remained  ;  that  the  ulcer 
took  on  an  unhealthy  character ;  fungus  shooted  up ;  in  short,  there 
was  quitter  or  canker.  This  is  a  simple  view  of  the  case,  and  at 
once  points  out  a  mode  of  treatment,  intelligible  and  generally 
successful. 

It  is  true  that  foul  in  the  foot  is  most  prevalent  in  low  marshy 
countries  ;  but  the  hoof  is  there  softened,  macerated  by  its  continual 
immersion  in  moisture,  and  rendered  unable  to  resist  the  accidents  to 
which  it  is  occasionally  exposed. 

When  a  beast  becomes  suddenly  lame,  he  should  be  taken  up, 
and,  if  necessary,  secured.  The  lameness  "svill  generally  be  referable 
to  one  claw.  The  heat,  and  tenderness,  and  redness,  and  enlarge- 
ment round  the  coronet  wiH  prove  this.  The  foot  should  be  carefully 
examined  :  is  there  an}'^  prick  or  wound  about  the  sole  ?  if  so,  let 
the  horn  be  pared  away  there — let  the  matter  which  is  pent  up 
within  escape — let  the  horn  be  removed  as  far  as  it  has  separated 
from  the  sensible  parts  beneath — let  a  little  butyr  of  antimony  be 
applied  over  the  denuded  part — let  a  pledget  of  soft  dry  tow  be 
bound  tightly  upon  the  part,  and  let  the  animal  be  placed  in  a  dry 
yard  or  cow-house. 

If  there  be  no  evident  wound,  let  the  foot  of  the  beast  be  tried 
round  with  the  pincers  ;  and  if  he  decidedly  flinches  when  pressed 
on  a  particular  part,  let  the  foot  be  opened  there — let  the  coronet 
be  closely  examined  :  is  there  any  soft  reddish  shot  upon  it?  if  so, 
freely  plunge  the  lancet  into  it. 

If  the  examiner  be  foiled  in  this  attempt  to  discover  the  seat  ol 
mischief,  let  him  envelop  the  foot  in  a  poultice ;  that  wnll  soften  the 
parts,  and  cause  even  the  horn  to  be  a  little  more  yielding,  and  will 
abate  the  inflammation ;  if  it  should  be  pure  inflammation  without 
previous  mechanical  injury,  that  will  hasten  the  process  of  suppura- 
tion, and  the  matter  will  more  quickly,  and  with  less  destruction  to 
the  neighboring  parts,  find  its  way  to  the  coronet.  As  soon  as  it 
does  so,  the  soft  projecting  red  or  black  spot  should  be  opened,  and 
a  probe  should  be  introduced  into  the  opening  and  the  sinuses  care- 
fully ascertained,  and  every  portion  of  detached  horn  removed  from 
above  them,  and  the  healthy  horn  around  thinned  and  smoothed. 
It  will  always  in  these  cases  be  prudent  to  administer  a  dose  of 
Epsom  salts. 

The  character  of  the  surface  exposed  should  now  be  considered. 
If,  the  matter  having  been  all  evacuated,  the  wound  or  wounds  have 


FOUL  IN  THE  FOOT. 


a  tolerably  healthy  appearance,  a  light  application  of  the  biityr  of 
antimony,  and  that  repeated  daily,  will  soon  induce  a  secretion  of 
new  horn  ;  but  if  there  be  a  portion  of  the  surface  that  looks  black  or 
spongy,  or  the  edges  of  which  are  separated  from  the  parts  around, 
here  was,  probably,  the  original  seat  of  injury — the  life  of  that  portion 
has  been  destroyed  and  it  must  be  removed — it  must  slough  out.  A 
poultice  of  hnseed  meal,  with  a  fourth  part  of  common  turpentine, 
must  be  put  on,  changed  twice  in  the  day,  and  continued  until  the 
suppuration  is  complete.  A  light  application  of  the  butyr  should  then 
follow,  or,  in  favorable  cases,  a  pledget  soaked  in  Friar's  balsam  should 
be  placed  on  the  wound,  bound  tightly  down,  and  daily  renewed  ; 
the  removal  of  every  portion  of  detached  horn,  dryness,  firm  but 
equable  pressure  on  the  part,  and  moderate  stimulus  of  the  exposed 
surface,  are  the  principles  which  will  carry  the  practitioner  success- 
fully through  every  case  of  foul  in  the  foot. 

Nothing  has  been  said  of  the  fungous  excrescence  between  the 
claws,  in  order  to  remove  which,  as  well  as  to  stimulate  the  surface 
beneath  and  dispose  it  to  throw  out  healthy  horn,  the  cart-rope  or 
the  horse-hair  line  used  to  be  introduced  betw^een  the  claws,  and 
drawn  backward  and  forward,  inflicting  sad  and  unnecessary  torture 
on  the  animal.  This  fungus  will  rarely  make  its  appearance,  if  the 
horn,  which  had  lost  its  attachment  to  the  living  surface  beneath,  yet 
still  continued  to  press  upon  it,  has  been  carefully  removed.  If  any 
fungus  appear,  it  should  be  levelled  by  means  of  a  sharp  knife,  and 
the  caustic  applied.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  pure  inflammation, 
without  wound  or  mechanical  injury,  does  sometimes  attack  the  feet 
of  cattle,  especially  of  those  that  are  in  high  condition.  On  one  day 
the  beast  is  perfectly  free  from  lameness,  or  illness  of  any  kind  ;  on 
the  following  day  probably  the  foot  is  swelled,  the  claios  stand  apart 
from  each  other,  they  are  unusually  hot,  and  the  animal  can  scarcely 
rest  any  portion  of  his  weight  on  one  foot ;  he  is  continually  shifting 
his  posture,  or  he  lies  down  and  cannot  be  induced  to  rise.  If  the 
beast  be  neglected,  the  inflammation  and  swelling  increase  until  an 
ulcer  appears  at  the  division  of  the  claws,  and  which  cannot  be  healed 
until  a  considerable  core  has  sloughed  out. 

A  linseed-meal  poultice  should  be  applied  to  the  part  as  soon  as 
this  inflammation  is  observed,  and  it  rnay  be  easily  retained  in  its 
situation  by  means  of  a  cloth  through  which  two  holes  have  been  cut 
to  admit  the  claws.  This  will  either  abate  the  inflammation  or  has- 
ten the  suppuration ;  and  as  soon  as  the  swelling  begins  to  point,  it 
should  be  opened.  The  poultice  must  be  continued  until  this  slough- 
ing process  has  taken  place,  or  the  ulcer  begins  to  have  a  healthy 
surface,  a  little  common  turpentine  having  been  added  to  it.  Proud 
flesh  must  be  subdued,  by  the  caustic  ;  equal  parts  of  verdigris  and 
sugar  of  lead  will  constitute  the  best  application  for  this  purpose. 
Foul  and  fetid  discharge  must  be  corrected  by  the  chloride  of  lime ; 


436  CATTLE. 


and  when  the  ulcer  looks  healthy,  the  tincture  of  myrrh  or  Friar's 
balsam  must  be  used. 

By  this  mode  of  treatment,  the  disease  will  readily  be  subdued, 
but  the  application  of  corroding  caustic  substances  in  the  early 
stage  of  it  will  add  fuel  to  fire ;  and  the  suffering  the  abscess  to  re- 
main unopen  until  the  pus  has  burst  its  way  through  the  thick  skin 
of  the  leg  will  produce  sinuses  that  will  run  in  every  direction,  re- 
main open  month  after  montli,  and  leave  permanent  lameness  be- 
hind. Some  have  imagined  that  this  variety  of  foul  in  the  foot  is 
contagious.  That  is  not  quite  ascertained,  although  there  are  some 
suspicious  cases  on  record  ;  the  farmer,  therefore,  will  act  prudently, 
who  immediately  separates  the  lame  beast  from  the  herd. 

In  one  respect,  these  diseases  of  the  feet  of  cattle  differ  materi- 
ally from  quitter  or  canker  in  the  horse.  There  is  a  laminated  con- 
nection between  the  hoof  of  the  ox  and  the  sensible  parts  beneath, 
as  in  the  horse  ;  but  the  horny  plates  of  the  hoof  and  the  fleshy 
ones  of  the  substance  which  covers  the  cofhn-bone  are  not  so  wide 
or  so  deep,  and  therefore  the  attachment  between  the  hoof  and  the 
foot  is  not  so  strong.  Thence  it  happens  that  the  matter  finds  great 
difficulty  in  forcing  a  way  for  itself  in  the  foot  of  the  horse,  and 
deep  sinuses  are  formed,  which  reach  to,  and  corrode  the  bone,  and 
there  is  sometimes  core  upon  core  to  be  detached,  and  portions  of 
bone  to  be  thrown  off",  and  whence  results  the  cankered  state  of  the 
foot,  and  the  difficulty  of  cure.  In  cattle,  less  resistance  to  the  pro- 
gress of  the  matter  is  experienced  ;  the  hoof  is  more  easily  separated 
from  the  parts  beneath,  and  that  which  would  produce  deep  ulcera- 
tion and  caries  in  the  one,  rarely  to  be  perfectly  repaired,  leads  to 
the  casting  of  the  hoof  in  the  other,  while  the  foot  has  received 
comparatively  little  injury.  The  form  of  the  foot,  in  these  cases,  is 
much  changed,  and  all  its  functions  impaired  in  the  one ;  in  the 
other  a  new  hoof  speedily  covers  a  foot  that  has  escaped  all  serious 
detriment,  and  the  animal  becomes  as  useful  as  he  ever  was.  Cases, 
however,  do  sometimes  occur,  in  which  the  hoof  is  lengthened  and 
curved,  and  twisted  in  a  very  curious  way,  and  the  coffin-bone  takes 
on  a  similar  distortion. 

There  is  r\o  frog  in  the  foot  of  cattle,  nor  are  there  the  provisions 
for  the  expansion  and  elasticity  of  the  foot  which  we  admire  in  the 
liorse ;  therefore  there  is  not  any  disease  that  can  be  considered  as 
corresponding  with  the  "  thrush  "  in  that  animal,  but  there  is  occa- 
sionally something  not  much  unlike  grease.  A  sore  appears  upon 
the  heel,  not,  however,  so  much  in  the  form  of  a  crack  as  of  a  circu- 
lar superficial  ulcer.  It  has  a  brown,  unhealthy  hue  ;  fungus  often 
springs  from  it,  and  it  causes  considerable  lameness.  It  is  best 
treated  with  the  chloride  of  lime,  or  that  and  a  strong  solution  of 
alum  ma}'  be  alternately  applied.  A  bandage  should  seldom  be 
used,  because  it  can  scarcely  be  put  on  without  excoriating  the 


FOUL  IN  THE  FOOT.  437 

parts  and  increasing  the  evil,  and  because  the  ox  is  much  more  im- 
patient of  the  restraint  of  the  bandage  than  is  the  most  fidgety  or 
vicious  horse. 

Constant  pain  seems  to  prey  speedily  and  injuriously  on  cattle. 
They  have  not  the  courage  and  endurance  of  resistance,  and  there- 
fore it  is  that  these  diseases  of  the  feet  soon  begin  very  materially 
to  interfere  with  the  condition  of  the  beast,  'l-hese  things  would 
indicate  the  propriety  of  having  recourse  to  the  operatior^  of  neurot- 
omy. It  is  an  operation  which,  resorted  to  in  proper  cases,  will 
often  be  practised  to  reheve  the  torture,  and  to  improve  the  condi- 
tion of  ruminants. 

Homoeopathic  treatment. — Acidum  phosphoricum  is  an  excellent 
remedy  in  most  cases.  Others  Have  yielded  to  the  efficacy  of  sul- 
phur, and  of  carbon  vegetahilis,  preceded  by  a  few  doses  of  nux 
vomica.  Lux  recommends  the  hupodopurinum  as  specific.  Mercu- 
rius  soluhilis  has  often  rendered  great  service  in  diseased  feet.  At 
the  onset  of  the  disease,  when  there  is  yet  only  a  difficulty  of  walk- 
ing, and  some  sensibility  of  the  sole,  arnica  (internally  and  exter- 
nally) and  arsenicum  may  suffice  for  eflFecting  a  cure  ;  however,  even 
under  such  circumstances,  acidum  phosphoricum  has  succeeded  more 
than  once,  sc  that  it  may  be  considered  as  the  most  useful. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE    DISEASES    OF    THE    SKIN. 

Graziers  know  that  the  beast  whose  skin  is  not  soft,  and  mellow, 
and  elastic,  can  never  carry  any  profitable  quaniity  of  flesh  and  fat ; 
therefore  they  judge  of  the  value  of  the  animal  even  more  by  the 
handling  than  they  do  by  the  conformation  of  parts. 

The  skin  is  filled  with  innumerable  little  glands,  which  pour  out  an 
oily  fluid,  that  softens  and  supplies  it,  so  that  we  can  easily  take  it 
between  the  finger  and  thumb,  and  raise  it  from  the  parts  beneath ; 
and  while  we  are  doing  this,  we  are  sensible  of  its  peculiar  mellow- 
ness and  elasticity.  At  another  time,  or  in  another  animal,  the  skin 
seems  to  cling  to  the  muscles  beneath,  and  feels  harsh  and  rough 
^hen  we  handle  it ;  but  the  skin  is  not  altered  or  diseased  ;  it  is  this 
secretion  of  oily  fluid  that  is  suspended.  We  attach  the  idea  of 
health  to  the  mellow  skin,  and  of  disease  to  the  harsh  and  immova- 
ble one,  because  the  experience  of  ourselves  and  of  everybody  else 
has  confirmed  this  connection,  and  the  principle  is,  that  when  one 
secretion  is  properly  discharged  the  others  will  generally  be  so,  and 
when  one  is  interrupted  the  harmony  of  the  system  is  too  much 
disturbed  for  the  animal  to  thrive  or  to  be  in  viofor. 

Then,  as  a  symptom  of  a  diseased  state  of  the  constitution  gene- 
rally, the  attention  is  first  directed  to 

HIDE-BOUND.^ 

The  term  is  very  expressive — the  hide  seems  to  be  bound,  or  to 
cling  to  the  muscles  and  bones.  It  does  not  actually  do  so,  but  it 
has  lost  its  softness,  and  we  can  no  longer  raise  it,  or  move  it  about. 
The  secretion  of  the  oily  fluid  which  supplies  the  skin  is  disturbed  ; 
this  argues  disturbance  elsewhere,  and  the  feeling  of  the  skin  usually 
indicates  the  degree  of  that  disturbance. 

With  hide-bound  is  connected  a  rough  and  staring  coat.  The  sur- 
face of  the  skin  is  hard  and  dry  ;  the  minute  scales  with  which  it  is 
covered  no  longer  yield  to  the  hair,  but  separating  themselves  in 
every  direction,  they  turn  it  in  various  ways,  and  so  give  to  it  that 
irregular  and  ragged  appearance  which  is  one  of  the  characteristics 
of  want  of  condition. 


MANGE.  439 


These  two  circumstances — hide-bound  and  a  staring  coat — are 
unerring  indications  of  evil.  A  cow  may  be  somewhat  off  her  feed 
— she  may  hoose  a  httle — she  may  have  various  little  ailments ;  thev 
should  not  be  neglected ;  but  while  the  skin  is  loose,  and  the  hair 
lies  smooth,  the  farmer  has  not  much  to  fear ;  if,  however,  the  coat 
begm  to  stare,  and  the  skin  to  cling  to  the  ribs,  it  behooves  him  to 
examine  into  the  matter. 

If  the  unthrifty  appearance  cannot  be  traced  to  any  evident  cause, 
still  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  something  is  wrong.  Hide-bound 
is  rarely  a  primary  disease ;  it  is  a  symptom  of  disease,  and  oftener 
of  disease  of  the  digestive  organs  than  of  any  other.  A  dose  of 
physic  should  be  given  (eight  ounces  of  sulphur,  wiih  half  an  ounce 
of  ginger,)  and  a  few  mashes  should  be  allowed.  After  this,  medi- 
cines should  be  administered  that  have  a  tendency  to  rouse  the  ves- 
sels of  the  skin  to  their  due  action,  as  sulphur,  nitre,  and  antimonial 
powder,  with  a  small  quantity  of  ginger.  No  direct  tonic  should  be 
administered  while  the  cause  of  this  want  of  condition  is  unknown, 
but  warm  purgatives  and  diaphoretic  medicines  will  often  have  a 
good  eflfect. 

MANGE. 

This  is  the  most  serious  among  the  diseases  of  the  skin  in  cattle. 
The  first  symptom  is  a  constant  itchiness.  The  cow  eagerly  rubs 
herself  against  everything  that  she  can  get  at.  The  hair  comes 
quite  off,  or  gets  thin  on  various  parts  of  the  body.  There  are  few 
scabs  or  sores ;  but  either  in  consequence  of  the  rubbing,  or  as  an 
effect  of  the  disease,  a  thick  scurfiness  appears,  particularly  along 
the  back,  and  in  patches  on  other  places.  It  is  first  seen  about  the 
tail,  and  thence  it  spreads  in  every  direction.  The  cow  soon  begins 
to  lose  condition,  the  ridge  of  her  back  becomes  prominent,  and  her 
milk  decreases,  and  sometimes  is  deteriorated  in  quality. 

The  causes  are  various  ;  they  are  occasionally  as  opposite  as  it  is 
possible  for  them  to  be.  Too  luxuriant  food  will  produce  it ;  it  will 
more  certainly  follow  starvation.  The  skin  sympathizes  with  the 
overtaxed  powers  of  digestion  in  the  one  case,  and  with  the  general 
debility  of  the  frame  in  the  other ;  and  nothing  is  so  certain  of 
bringing  on  the  worst  kind  of  it  as  the  sudden  change  from  com- 
parative starvation  to  luxuriant  food.  Want  of  cleanliness,  although 
highly  censurable,  has  been  oftener  accused  as  the  cause  of  mange 
than  it  deserves  ;  but  to  nothing  can  it  more  frequently  be  traced 
than  to  contagion. 

The  treatment  is  simple  and  effectual.  The  diseased  cattle  should 
be  removed  to  some  distant  stable  or  shed  where  there  can  be  no 
possible  communication  with  the  others.  The  disease,  however  pro- 
duced, must  be  considered  and  treated  as  a  local  one.  The  scurfi- 
ness of  the  skin  must  first  be  got  off,  by  means  of  a  hard  brush,  or  a 


440  CATTLE. 


curry-comb,  somewhat  lightly  applied.  To  this  must  follow  the 
application  of  an  ointment  Avhich  appears  to  have  a  speci6c  effect  on 
the  mange,  and  which  must  be  well  rubbed  in  with  a  soft  brush,  or, 
what  is  far  better,  with  the  hand,  morning  and  night :  there  is  no 
danger  of  the  disease  being  communicated  to  the  person  so  employed. 
The  ointment  must  have  sulphur  as  its  basis,  aided  by  turpentine, 
which  somewhat  irritates  the  skin,  and  disposes  it  to  be  acted  upon 
by  the  sulphur  ;  and,  to  render  it  still  more  efficacious,  a  small  por- 
tion of  mercury  must  be  added.  The  following  Avill  be  a  safe  and 
very  effectual  application — there  are  few  cases  whicli  will  resist  its 
power.  Take  of  flowers  of  sulphur  a  pound,  common  turpentine 
four  ounces,  strong  mercurial  ointment  two  ounces,  and  linseed  oil  a 
pint.  Warm  the  oil  and  melt  the  turpentine  in  it ;  when  they  begin 
to  get  cool,  add  the  sulphur,  and  stir  the  ingredients  well  together, 
ahd  afterwards  incorporate  the  blue  ointment  with  the  mass  by  rub- 
bing them  together. 

Vast  numbers  of  cattle  have  been  lost  by  the  use  of  stronger  and 
poisonous  applications.  Corrosive  sublimate,  in  the  form  of  an 
almost  saturated  solution  of  it,  is  a  favorite  lotion  with  many  prac- 
titioners. Arsenic — hellebore — tobacco  have  had  their  advocates, 
and  have  murdered  thousands  of  cattle. 

The  practitioner  must  not,  however,  confine  himself  to  mere  local 
treatment;  physic  should  always  be  administered.  Sulphur,  in 
doses  of  eight  ounces  every  third  day,  will  matei-ially  assist  in  effect- 
ing a  cure ;  and  on  the  intermediate  days  nothing  better  can  be 
given  than  the  powder  recommended  for  hide-bound  (p.  439.) 
Mashes  also  should  be  allowed  every  night. 

Mange,  neglected  or  improperly  treated,  may  degenerate  into  a 
worse  disease,  but  fortunately  not  one  of  frequent  occurrence.  The 
scurf  will  be  succeeded  by  scabs — there  have  been  cases  in  which 
the  scabs  have  appeared  from  the  beginning — and  the  skin  becomes 
thickened  and  corrugated,  and  covered  with  scales,  and  occasionally 
the  scales  peel  off,  and  corroding  ulcers  appear  beneath. 

The  same  ointment,  but  with  double  the  quantity  of  mercury, 
must  be  used  for  this  aggravated  state  of  the  disease,  and  a  stronger 
alterative  powder,  consisting  of  two  drachms  of  Ethiop's  mineral, 
added  to  the  one  already  recommended.  All  this  mercury,  however, 
must  be  used  with  caution,  for  it  is  not  a  drug  that  always  agrees 
with  cattle  ;  and  salivation  would,  temporarily  at  least,  and  in  most 
cases  permanently,  injure  the  beast,  both  for  the  dairy  and  the 
pasture. 

In  those  sadly  aggravated  cases  that  come  under  the  observation 
of  the  practitioner,  in  which  the  whole  of  the  skin  is  thickened  and 
corrugated,  with  deep  chaps  running  down  on  either  side,  or  uniting 
together  in  various  directions — when  within  the  substance  of  the 
skin  numerous  tubercles  can  be  felt,  varying  from  the  size  of  a  millet- 


MAD  ITCH.  441 


seed  to  that  of  a  kidney-bean — when  the  eyelids  are  swelled  so  that 
the  animal  can  scarcely  see,  and  a  great  quantity  of  mucus  is  dis- 
charged from  them — when  the  nostrils  and  lips  are  thickened,  and 
dense  and  yellow  mucus  runs  from  the  nose — when,  beginning  from 
the  knees  and  reaching  almost  to  the  hoofs,  the  intervals  between  the 
chaps  are  occupied  by  tuberculous  grapes,  of  different  sizes,  and 
some  of  which  discharge  a  serous  fluid ; — in  such  cases  the  surgeon 
may  well  be  puzzled  what  to  do. 

The  animal  must  be  bled  and  physicked  ;  but  his  strength  must 
be  supported  by  mashes  and  plenty  of  fresh  green  meat :  he  must 
be  fomented  all  over  many  times  every  day,  and  he  must  be  kept 
where  he  cannot  communicate  the  infection.  If  the  inflammation 
does  not  begin  to  subside,  he  must  be  bled  again  and  again  ;  the 
physic  must  be  repeated  ;  sulphur  will  constitute  the  best  physic 
here,  and  he  must  be  kept  under  its  purgative  influence :  and,  at 
at  length,  the  skin  beginning  to  supple — the  cutaneous  inflammation 
having,  to  a  considerable  degree,  subsided — the  ointment  and  the 
powder  recommended  for  mange  must  be  used.  Should  they  not 
have  sufficient  efi'ect,  recourse  must  be  had  to  the  stronger  ones  pre- 
scribed for  leprosy.  Previous,  however,  to  the  use  of  either  of  the 
ointments,  and  after  the  inflammation  has  abated,  the  solution  of  the 
chloride  of  lime  may  be  applied  on  two  or  three  successive  days  with 
much  advantage. 

Hom'xopathic  treatment. — Some  doses  of  sulphiw  (one  a  day)  is 
the  first  remedy  to  be  employed.  Then  staphysagria  should  be  ad- 
ministered, more  especially  when  there  are  dartrous  eruptions,  with 
itching  during  the  night.  Dulcamara  is  good  in  the  vesicular  erup- 
tion, with  yellowish  serosity,  which  comes  on  after  sudden  cold,  and 
which  is  accompanied  by  a  discharge  from  the  nose,  as  well  as  in 
dr}'  and  furfuraceous  dark-colored  eruptions.  Mezereum  is  indicated 
in  itchy  tubercles,  with  redness  of  the  skin ;  arsenicum,  in  case  the 
appetite  is  impaired,  with  periodical  diarrhoea. 

MAD    ITCH. 

This  is  a  disease  pecuhar  to  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  its 
tributaries,  and,  on  account  of  its  name,  is  reserved  for  this  place. 
It  is,  however,  not  a  disease  of  the  skin,  but  of  the  manyplus  or 
manifolds.  It  is  said  to  be  found  only  in  cattle  following  hogs  in  the 
corn-fields.  The  hogs  chew  the  green  corn-stalk,  extracting  the 
juice,  and  leaving  the  refuse.  Cattle  eagerly  eat  the  chewed  stalks; 
and  not  unfrequently  these  become  impacted  in  the  manyplus,  and 
are  then  dry  and  indigestible.  Cattle  which  are  diseased  by  feeding 
on  these  corn-stalks,  exhibit  their  diseased  condition  by  a  wildness 
of  the  eyes,  and  by  rubbing  the  nose  and  head  against  any  object 
near  them,  as  trees  or  fences.  This  is  so  violently  done,  that  they 
19* 


i42  CATTLE. 

tear  the  skin  and  flesh  horribly.  This  is  a  disease,  primarily,  of  the 
stomach,  affecting  the  brain  and  the  head  generally.  The  remedy 
must  be  applied  promptly,  and,  as  in  all  inflammations,  copious  bleed- 
ing must  be  resorted  to ;  and  then  should  follow  active  medicine. 
The  treatment  prescribed  for  this  disease  at  pages  31-3,  314^  315, 
316  and  3 17,  must  be  followed.  The  main  reliance  will  be  a  thorough 
■washing  of  the  manifolds  with  water,  administered  by  the  stomach- 
pump. 

Homoeopathic  treatmevt. — This  will  consist  of,  first,  aconitum,  and 
then  belladonna,  to  be  followed  by  veratrum  album.  These  are  to 
be  given  to  abate  the  secondary  efi'ects  of  the  disease.  As  to  the 
cause,  it  can  only  be  removed  as  prescribed  at  page  313  and  the 
following  ones  ;  and  the  means  are  mainly  mechanical.  Sulphur 
and  mercurius  vivus  may  be  given  if  there  be  costiveness ;  nux 
vomica  if  the  faeces  be  hard  ;  opium  and  argilla  when  nothing  passes ; 
and  plumbum  where  the  constipation  is  very  obstinate. 

LICE. 

Connected  with  mange,  the  usual  accompaniment,  and  probably 
the  occasional  cause  of  it,  is  the  appearance  of  vermin  on  the  skin. 
It  cannot  be  supposed  that  they  are  originally  produced  by  any  dis- 
ease or  state  of  the  skin;  but  the  ova  (eggs)  of  these  animalculae, 
floatino*  in  the  atmosphere,  find  in  the  skin  of  cattle,  under  certain 
circumstances,  and  under  those  alone,  a  proper  nidus,  or  place  where 
they  may  be  hatched  into  life.  A  beast  in  good  health  and  condi- 
tioil  will  not  have  one  of  those  insects  upon  him  unless  he  mixes 
with  lousy  cattle  ;  but  if  he  be  turned  out  in  the  straw-yard  in  winter, 
and  is  half-starved  there,  and  his  coat  becomes  rough,  and  matted, 
and  foul,  they  will  soon  swarm  upon  him.  By  the  constant  irrita- 
tion which  they  excite,  they  will  predispose  the  skin  to  an  attack  of 
mange  from  other  causes,  if  they  do  not  actually  produce  it. 

He  who  had  not  personal  observation  of  the  fact,  would  hardly 
beheve  how  numerous  they  soon  become.  There  are  myriads  of 
them  on  the  hide  of  the  ill-fated  beast.  They  keep  him  in  a  con- 
stant state  of  torment,  and  are,  in  a  manner,  devouring  him  before 
his  time.  It  cannot  be  surprising  that  they  rapidly  spread  from  one 
animal  to  another.  The  slightest  contact,  the  lying  on  the  same 
lair,  or  the  feeding  on  the  same  pasture,  is  sufficient  to  enable  thera 
to  be  communicated  from  the  infected  beast  to  all  the  rest.  The 
animalcule  thrives  everywhere,  although  the  ovum  did  not  find  a 
proper  nidus  on  the  skin  of  the  healthy  beast ;  and  the  vermin,  once 
established  there,  soon  change  the  character  of  the  skin,  and  cover 
it  with  scurf  and  mange. 

Various  p  )wder9  and  lotions  have  been  recommended  for  the  de- 
stnictioD  of  these  parasites.     A  powder  can  scarcely  be  brought 


WARBLES.  448 


into  contact  with  a  thousandth  part  of  them;  nor  can  a  lotion, 
unless  used  in  a  quantity  sufficient  to  kill  the  beast  as  well  as  those 
that  are  feeding  upon  him.  An  ointment  is  the  most  convenient 
application,  and  by  dint  of  rubbing,  a  little  of  it  may  be  made  to  go 
a  great  way.  The  common  scab  ointment  for  sheep  (one  part  of 
strong  mercurial  ointment,  and  five  of  lard)  will  be  effectual  for  this 
purpose ;  and  if  a  little  of  it  be  well  rubbed  in,  instead  of  a  great 
deal  being  smeared  over  the  animal,  there  will  be  no  danger  of  sal- 

ivnt.inn 


Homceopathic  treatment.— Lice  are  destroyed  in  a  few  days  with  a 
decoction  of  staphysagria,  or  with  a  pomade  prepared  with  three 
parts  of  axunge  and  one  part  of  parsley-seed,  pounded. 


WARBLES. 


Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  and  the  beginning  of  autumn, 
and  especially  in  fine  and  warm  weather,  cattle  out  at  pasture  are 
frequently  annoyed  by  a  fly  of  the  Diptera  order  and  the  (Estrus 
genus,  that  seems  to  sting  them  with  great  severity.  The  animal 
attacked  runs  bellowing  from  his  companions,  with  his  head  and 
neck  stretched  out,  and  his  tail  extending  straight  from  his  body, 
and  he  seeks  for  refuge,  if  possible,  in  some  pooror  stream  of  wateV! 
(The  fly  seems  to  fear  or  to  have  an  aversion  to  the  water,  and 
cattle  are  there  exempt  from  its  attack.)  The  whole  herd,  having 
previously  been  exposed  to  the  same  annoyance,  are  frightened,  and 
scamper  about  in  every  direction,  or,  one  and  all,  rush  into  the 
stream.  Under  the  excitation  of  the  moment,  they  disregard  all 
control,  and  even  oxen  at  work  in  the  fields  will  sometimes  betake 
themselves  to  flight  with  the  plough  at  their  heels,  regardless  of 
their  driver,  or  of  the  incumbrance  which  they  drag  behind  them. 

The  formidable  enemy  that  causes  this  alarm,  and  seems  to  inflict 
so  much  torture,  is  the  CEstrus  Bovis,  the  Breeze,  or  Gad-fly,  which, 
at  this  time,  is  seeking  a  habitation  for  its  future  young,  and  selects 
the  hides  of  cattle  for  this  purpose.  It  is  said  to  choose  the  younger 
beasts,  and  those  that  are  in  highest  condition.  There  has  evidently 
been  considerable  exercise  of  selection,  for  a  great  many  of  the 
cattle  in  the  same  pastures  will  have  only  a  few  warbles'^  on  their 
backs,  while  others  will,  in  a  manner,  be  covered  by  them. 

The  oestnis  bovis  is  the  largest  and  most  beautiful  of  this  genus. 
Its  head  is  white,  and  covered  with  soft  down — its  thorax  yellow  an- 
teriorly, with  four  black  longitudinal  lines — the  centre  of  the  thorax 
is  black,  and  the  posterior  part  of  an  ashen  color — the  abdomen  is 
also  of  an  ashen  color,  with  a  wide  black  band  in  the  centre,  and 
covered  posteriorly  with  yellow  hair.  It  does  not  leave  its  chrysahs 
state  until  late  in  the  summer,  and  is  then  eagerly  employed  in  pro- 


■*W  CATTLE. 


viding  a  habitation  for  its  future  progeny.  It  selects  the  back  of  th« 
ox,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  spine  on  either  side,  and  ahghting 
there,  it  speedily  pierces  the  integument,  deposits  an  egg  in  the  cel- 
lular substance  beneath  it,  and  piobably  a  small  quantity  of  some 
acid,  which  speedily  produces  a  litlle  tumor  on  the  part,  and  accounts 
for  the  apparent  suffering  of  the  animal. 

The  egg  seems  to  be  hatched  before  the  wound  is  closed,  and  the 
larva,  or  maggot,  occupies  a  small  cyst  or  cell  beneath  it.  The  tail 
of  the  larva  projects  into  this  opening,  and  the  insect  is  thus  sup- 
plied with  air,  the  principal  air-vessels  being  placed  posteriorly; 
while  with  the  mouth,  deep  at  the  bottom  of  the  abscess,  it  receives 
the  pus,  or  other  matter  that  is  secreted  there.  A  fluid,  resembling 
pus,  can  always  be  squeezed  from  the  tumor,  and  increasing  in  quan- 
tity as  the  animal  approaches  his  change  of  form.  In  its  early  stage 
of  existence  the  larva  is  white,  like  that  of  most  other  flies  ;  but  as 
it  approaches  its  maturity,  it  becomes  darker,  and  at  length  almost 
black.  These  little  tumors  form  the  residence  of  the  larva,  and  are 
recognized  by  the  name  of  warbles. 

The  abscess  having  been  once  formed,  appears  to  be  of  little  or 
no  inconvenience  to  the  beast  on  whose  back  it  is  found.  It  cer- 
tainly does  not  interfere  with  his  condition,  and  the  butcher  regards 
the  existence  of  these  warbles  even  as  a  proof  of  a  disposition  to 
thrive.  The  injury  to  the  skin,  however,  is  another  affair,  and  the 
tanner  would  probably  tell  a  different  story.  The  larva,  if  undis- 
turbed, continues  in  his  cyst,  until  the  month  of  June  or  July  in  the 
following  year,  and  then  forces  itself  through  the  aperture  already 
described,  and  the  accomplishment  of  which  occupies  two  days.  It 
is  soft  when  it  first  escapes,  but  it  soon  hardens  ;  and  if  it  is  fortu- 
nate enough  to  escape  the  birds,  or  if  it  does  not  fall  into  the  water, 
which  the  cattle  seem  now  instinctively  to  seek,  as  it  were  to  destroy 
as  many  of  their  enemies  as  possible,  it  conceals  itself  in  the  nearest 
hiding-place  it  can  find,  where  it  remains  motionless  until  it  changes 
to  a  chrysahs,  which  is  speedily  effected  ;  it  continues  in  its  new 
form  about  six  weeks,  and  then  bursts  from  its  shell  a  perfect  fly. 

It  is  a  very  singular  circumstance,  that  the  escape  of  the  larva 
from  its  prison  on  the  back  of  the  ox  always  takes  place  in  the 
morning,  and  between  six  and  eight  o'clock. 

Being  also  exposed  to  many  dangers  in  its  chrj^saline  state,  it  is 
then  covered  with  a  scaly  box  of  great  strength,  and  from  which  it 
would  seem  impossible  for  it  ever  to  make  its  escape  ;  but  when  its 
change  is  complete,  and  it  begins  to  struggle  Avithin  its  prison,  a 
valve  at  one  end  of  its  narrow  house,  and  fastened  only  by  a  slight 
filament,  flies  open,  and  the  insect  wings  its  way,  fiist  to  find  its 
mate,  and  then  to  deposit  its  eggs  on  the  cattle  in  tlie  nearest  pastures. 

Some  farmers  are  very  careless  about  the  existence  of  these  wai> 
bles ;  others  very  properly  endeavor  to  destroy  the  grub  that  inhajj- 


ANGLE-BERRIES,  OR  WARTS.  44! 


its  them.  This  is  effected  in  various  ways — a  little  corrosive  li(|uoi 
is  poured  into  the  hole,  or  a  red-hot  needle  introduced,  or  the  larva 
is  crushed  or  forced  out  by  pressure  with  the  finger  and  thumb. 
Although  the  existence  of  the  warble  is  a  kind  of  proof  of  the 
health  and  condition  of  the  animal,  yet  there  is  no  reason  why  the 
best  beasts  should  be  tormented  by'the  gad-fly,  or  the  strongest  and 
best  hides  be  perforated,  and,  in  a  manner,  spoiled  in  their  best  parts. 
Although  when  the  larva  escapes  or  is  expelled,  the  tumor  soon 
subsides,  the  holes  made  are  scarcely  filled  up  during  that  season  ; 
and  even  a  twelvemonth  afterwards,  a  weakness  of  the  hide,  and  dis- 
position to  crack,  will  show  where  the  bot  has  been.  If  all  the 
farmers  could  be  induced  to  search  for  and  destroy  the  insect  when 
a  lai  va,  the  cattle  of  that  district  might  be  nearly  or  quite  freed  from 
this  pest. 

ANGLE-BERRIES,    OR    WARTS. 

Cattle  are  subject  to  various  excrescences,  growing  from  the  cuti- 
cle at  first,  but  afterwards  identified  with  the  true  skin.  They 
assume  many  forms,  from  that  of  scales  of  greater  or  less  thickness, 
and  accompanied  sometimes  by  chaps  and  sores,  to  fungous  growth,, 
of  different  size  and  hardness,  and  bearing  the  character  of  warts. 
They  are  occasionally  very  numerous  and  exceedingly  trouble- 
some, and  especially  about  the  teats.  When  they  grow  about 
the  eve-lids,  they  are  a  sad  nuisance  to  the  beast. 

When  they  are  only  exfoliations  and  scales  of  the  cuticle,  friction 
with  camphoretted  oil  will  occasionally  remove  them.  It  has  been 
known  to  disperse  the  warty  excrescences.  Mercurial  prepai-ations, 
whether  blue  ointment  or  corrosive  sublimate  and  soap,  are  danger- 
ous, but  they  will  usually  get  rid  of  the  angle-berries.  When  they 
are  numerous,  and  particularly  about  the  udder,  the  practitioner  will 
probably  try  to  remove  the  largest  of  them  by  means  of  a  liga- 
ture passed  round  their  roots.  This,  however,  will  often  be  an 
almost  endless  affair,  and  recourse  must  be  had  to  the  knife  and  the 
cautery.  The  cautery  will  stop  the  bleeding,  destroy  the  root  of  the 
wart,  and  thus  prevent  its  springing  again.  When  they  are  small, 
they'will  be  most  successfully  attacked  by  means  of  the  nitrate  of 
silver,  being  touched  daily  wiih  it  in  a  solid  form,  if  they  are  few 
and  di:^tinc°t;  or  washed  with  a  strong  solution  of  it,  if  they  are 
more  numerous  and  scattered  over  a  la;  ge  sui  face.  They  have  been 
attributed  to  various  causes,  as  contusions,  stings  of  msects,  want  <>( 
condition,  inflammation  of  the  skin;  but  in  most  cases  the  actual 
cause,  is  unknown. 

Homoeopathic,  treatment.— Warts  appear  on  the  breast,  belly, 
back,  neck,  tail  ;  sometimes  smooth,  round,  soft  and  broad  ;  some- 
times pediculated,  chapped,  spongy,  hard  and  dry,  or  moist,  paniful 
or  without  Reeling.     Fo  ■  the  cure  oi  warts  which  are  dry,  smooth, 


446  CATTLE. 


and  not  pediculated,  dulcamara  should  be  employed,  and  in  some 
cases  s-ilphur ;  for  those  which  are  ulcerated,  arsenicmn;  for  those 
which  bleed  readily  and  cause  pain,  cansticnm.  Excrescences  which 
are  moist,  incrusted,  chapped,  presenting  a  disgusting  appearance, 
and  frequently  of  an  enormous  size,  require  thvja,  externally  and 
internally,  and  the  employment  of  this  remedy  must  be  continued 
for  a  long  time.     Small  warts  on  the  lips  yield  to  calcarea  carhanica 


CHAPTER    XX. 

A    LIST    OF    THE    MEDICINES   USED    IN  THE  TREAT- 
MENT   OF    THE    DISEASES    OF    CATTLE. 

Alcohol. — There  are  two  circumstances  which  not  only  render  the 
practice  of  giving  stimulants  to  cattle  far  more  excusable  than  in  the 
horse,  but  absolutely  necessary  ;  the  first  is,  the  disposition  which  all 
the  inflammatory  diseases  of  cattle  have  to  take  on  a  typhoid  form, 
and  assume  a  malignant  character  ;  and  the  second  is,  the  construc- 
tion of  the  stomachs  of  these  animals,  in  consequence  of  which  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  medicine  falls  into  the  comparatively 
insensible  paunch.  Hence,  inflammation  having  been  subdued,  the 
practitioner  is  always  anxious  to  support  the  strength  of  the  consti- 
tution ;  and  even  while  he  is  combating  inflammation,  he  cautiously 
adds  a  stimulant  to  the  purgative,  in  order  that  he  may  dispose  the 
tissues  with  which  that  purgative  may  come  into  contact  to  be  affected 
by  it.  Hence  ginger  forms  an  indispensable  ingredient  in  every 
aperient  drink ;  hence  the  recourse  to  wine  in  many  cases  of  low 
fever  ;  and  henco  also  the  foundation  of,  and  the  excuse  for,  the 
custom  of  adding  the  sound  home-brewed  ale  to  almost  every  purga- 
tive, and  especially  for  .young  and  weakly  cattle,  when  evident 
inflammatory  action  does  not  forbid  it.  The  fiery  spices  and  the 
almost  undiluted  spirit  administered  by  the  cow-leech  can  never  be 
justified  ;  yet,  in  cattle-practice,  the  beneficial  eflect  of  the  aperient 
often  depends  fully  as  much  on  the  carminative  by  which  it  is  accom- 
panied, as  on  the  purgative  power  of  the  di-ug  itself. 

Aloes. — It  holds  a  secondary  rank,  or  might  be  almost  dismissed 
from  the  hst  of  cattle  aperients.  It  is  always  uncertain  in  its  efi'ect, 
and  sometimes  appears  to  be  absolutely  inert.  Six  ounces  have  been 
given  without  producing  any  appreciable  effect.  Still,  however,  as 
there  is  no  case  on  record  in  which  it  has  destroyed  the  ox  by  super- 
purgation,  and  as  occasionally  it  does  seem  to  exert  some  purgative 
effect,  it  may  be  admitted  in  combination  with  or  alternating  with 
other  purgatives,  when  constipation  is  obstinate  ;  few,  however,  would 
think  of  resorting  to  it  in  the  first  instance. 

The  Barbadoes  aloes  should  be  selected  ;  and  on  account  of  the 
construction  of  the  stomachs,  it  must  be  always  administered  in  solu- 
tion, for  a  ball  would  break  through  the  floor  of  the  oesophagean  canaL 


«48  CATTLE. 


and  be  lost  in  the  rumen.  Two  ounces  of  aloes,  and  one  ounce  of 
gum  Arabic  (in  order  to  suspend  the  imperfectly  dissolved  portion  of 
the  aloes)  should  be  put  into  a  pint  of  boiling  water,  and  the  mixture 
frequently  stirred  during  the  first  day  ;  then  two  ounces  of  tincture 
of  ginger  are  to  be  added,  not  only  to  prevent  the  mixture  from  fer- 
jnenting,  but  because  that  aromatic  seems  to  be  so  useful,  and  in  a 
manner  indispensable  in  cattle  purgatives.  The  dose  should  consist 
of  from  half  a  pint  to  a  pint  of  the  solution,  or  from  four  to  seven  or 
eight  drachms  of  the  aloes.  Some  persons  boil  the  aloes  in  the 
water,  but  the  purgative  effect  of  the  drug  is  much  lessened  by  this. 

Aloes  is  very  useful  in  the  form  of  tincture.  Eight  ounces  ot 
powdered  aloes  and  one  ounce  of  powdered  myrrh  should  be  put  into 
two  quarts  of  rectified  spirit,  diluted  with  an  equal  quantity  water. 
The  mixture  should  be  daily  well  shaken  for  a  fortnight,  when  it  will 
be  fit  for  use.  It  is  one  of  the  best  applications  for  recent  wounds ; 
and  in  old  wounds  especially,  accompanied  by  any  foulness  of  them, 
or  discharge  of  fetid  pus,  nothing  will  be  more  serviceable  than  equal 
parts  of  this  tincture  and  a  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime. 

Alteratives. — These  are  medicines  that  are  supposed  to  have  a 
slow  yet  beneficial  effect  in  alteiing  some  diseased  action  of  the 
vessels  of  the  skin  or  of  the  ortrans  of  circulation  or  dicrestion.  To  a 
COW  with  yellows,  or  mange,  or  that  cannot  be  made  to  acquire  con- 
dition, or  where  the  milk  is  diminishing,  small  quantities  of  medicine 
are  often  administered,  under  the  tempting,^  but  deceptive,  term  ot 
alteratives.  They  had  much  better  be  let  alone  in  the  majority  of 
cases.  If  a  cow  be  really  ill,  let  her  be  treated  accordingly  ;  let  her 
be  bled  or  physicked,  or  both  ;  but  let  her  not  be  nauseated,  or  her 
constitution  ruined,  by  continually  dosing  her  with  various  drugs. 
Ihe  want  of  condition  and  thriving  in  cattle  is  far  more  connected 
with  a  diseased  state  of  their  complicated  stomachs,  and  particularly 
with  obstruction  in  the  manyplus,  than  with  any  other  cause  ;  the 
alteratives,  then,  should  be  small  quantities  of  purgatives,  with  aro- 
matics,  as  Epsom  salts,  or  sulphur  with  ginger  ;  or,  what  would  be 
still  preferable,  rock  salt  in  the  manger  for  them  to  lick,  or  common 
salt  mingled  with  their  food.  There  can,  however,  be  no  doubt  that 
in  many  cutaneous  affections,  and  especially  where  mange  is  sus- 
pected, alterative  medicines  will  be  very  beneficial.  They  should  be 
composed  of  ^thiop's  mineral,  nitre,  and  sulphur,  in  the  proportions 
of  one,  two,  and  four,  and  in  daily  doses  of  from  half  an  ounce  to  an 
ounce. 

Alum. — This  is  a  useful  astringent  in  diarrhoea,  and  especially  in 
the  purging  of  calves.  It  is  best  administered  in  the  form  of  alum 
whey,  which  is  composed  of  two  drachms  of  powdered  alum,  dis- 
solved in  a  pint  of  hot  milk  ;  a  drachm  of  ginger  may  be  added  ; 
and,  if  the  purging  be  violent,  a  scruple  of  opium.  Alum  is  rarely 
used  externally  in  the  treatment  of  cattle,  unless  for  canker  in  the 


MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CATTLE.         449 

mouth,  and  as  a  useful  wash  after  the  tongue  has  been  lanced  in 
blain ;  and  unless  in  the  form  just  mentioned,  the  less  it  is  used  inter- 
nally the  better. 

Ammonia  is  not  frequently  used.  In  the  form  of  hartshorn,  it 
enters  into  the  composition  of  some  stimulating  liniments,  as  in  cases 
of  palsy.  The  carbonate  of  ammonia  has  been  extolled  as  a  speci6c 
for  hoove.  The  author  always  doubted  this  ;  he  put  it  to  the  test, 
and  it  failed.  It  was  administered  as  a  chemical  principle,  it  being 
supposed  that  the  alkali  would  neutralize  the  acid  gas  that  was  extri- 
cated from  the  fermenting  food  ;  but  it  has  been  proved  that  this  gas 
consists  chiefly  either  of  carburetted  or  sulphuretted  hydrogen ; 
besides  which  there  is  another  consideration,  that,  except  adminis- 
tered by  means  of  Reed's  pump,  not  one  drop  of  the  ammonia  would 
find  its  way  into  the  paunch. 

Anodynes. — The  one  commonly  used  in  cattle-practice  is  opium. 
The  doses  in  which  it  may  be  employed  have  already  been  pointed 
out  when  treating  of  the  diseases  in  which  it  is  indicated. 

Antimony. — There  are  but  three  preparations  of  it  can  be  useful 
to  the  practitioner  on  cattle.     The  first  is 

Emetic  Tartar,  which,  in  doses  from  half  a  drachm  to  a  drachm, 
and  combined  with  nitre  and  digitahs,  has  great  efficacy  in  lower- 
ing the  circulation  of  the  blood  in  inflammation  of  the  lungs  and 
every  catarrhal  affection,  and  particularly  in  that  species  of  pleurisy 
to  which  cattle  are  so  subject.  Emetic  tartar,  rubbed  down  with 
lard,  constitutes  a  powerful  and  very  useful  stimulant  when  applied 
to  the  skin. 

Antimonial  Powder — the  powder  of  oxide  of  antimony  with 
phosphate  of  lime.  It  is  frequently  sold  in  the  shops  under  the  name 
of  James's  Powder,  and  possesses  all  the  properties  of  that  more 
expensive  drug.  It  is  a  useful  febrifuge,  in  cases  where  it  may  not  be 
advisable  to  nauseate  the  beast  to  too  great  a  degree.  _^ 

Chloride  (Butyr)  of  Antimony. — Where  it  is  wished  that  a  caus- 
tic shall  act  only  superficially,  this  is  the  most  useful  one  that  can  be 
employed.  It  has  a  strong  affinity  for  water,  and  therefore  readily 
combines  with  the  fluids  belonging  to  the  part  to  which  it  is  applied, 
and  so  becomes  diluted  and  comparatively  powerless,  and  incapable 
of  producing  any  deep  and  corroding  mischief.  It  has  also  the 
advantage,  that,  by  the  change  of  color  which  it  produces,  it  accu- 
rately marks  the  extent  of  its  action,  and  therefore  forms  an  unerring 
guide  to  the  surgeon.  For  warts,  foul  in  the  foot,  cankered  foot,  and 
for  some  indolent  and  unhealthy  wounds,  it  is  a  valuable  caustic  and 
stimulant. 

Antispasmodics. — Opium,  for  its  general  power,  and  particularly 
for  its  efficacy  in  locked-jaw,  stands  unrivalled.  The  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine and  nitrous  ether  are  useful  in  cases  of  colic. 

Astringents. — These  are  lew  in  number,  but  they  are  powerful : 


460  CATTLE 


alum,  catechu,  opium  (an  astringent  because  it  is  an  anodyne),  and 
blue  vitiiol,  comprise  the  list;  the  first  used  both  externally  and 
internally  ;  the  two  next  internally  ;  and  the  last  internally,  but 
chiefly  powerful  as  arresting  nasal  discharge. 

Blisters. — The  thickness  of  the  skin  of  cattle  renders  it  somewhat 
difficult  to  produce  any  great  degree  of  vesication.  The  part  should 
be  previously  fomented  with  hot  water,  then  thoroughly  dried,  and 
the  blistering  application  well  rubbed  in.  With  these  precautions,  the 
common  blister  ointment  will  act  very  fairly ;  the  turpentine  tincture 
of  cantharides  still  better;  while  an  ointment  composed  by  triturating 
one  drachm  of  emetic  tar  with  six  of  lard,  will  produce  more  powerful 
and  deeper  irritation,  but  not  so  much  actual  blistering.  Sometimes 
boiling  water,  and  in  a  few  cases,  and  especially  in  bon}^  enlargements 
about  the  legs  attended  by  much  lameness,  the  hot  iron  will  be  re- 
sorted to. 

Calamine. — See  Zinc. 

Colombo. — A  very  useful  tonic,  and  especially  in  those  cases  of 
debility  whicli  accompany  or  follow  dysentery.  It  should  be  given 
in  doses  of  from  one  to  three  drachms,  combined  with  ginger. 

Calomel. — See  Mercury. 

Camphor. — Used  externally  alone  in  cattle-practice.  It  is  a  com- 
ponent part  in  the  liniments  for  palsy  and  garget. 

Cantharides — the  principal  ingredient  in  all  blistering  ointments, 
and  to  which  they  owe  their  power.  Corrosive  sublimate,  sulphuric 
acid,  and  euphorbium,  may  increase  the  torture  of  the  animal,  but 
they  will  generally  blemish,  and  often  lay  the  foundation  for  deep 
and  corroding  ulcers.  The  best  blister  ointment  for  cattle  is  com- 
posed of  one  part  of  cantharides  (Spanish  flies)  finely  powdered, 
three  of  lard,  and  one  of  yellow  resin  ;  the  lard  and  the  resin  should 
be  melted  together,  and  the  flies  added  when  these  ingredients  begin 
to  cool. 

Carraways. — The  powder  of  these  seeds  may  be  used  as  an  occa- 
sional change  for  ginger  ;  yet  it  is  not  so  stomachic  as  the  ginger, 
and  is  decidedly  inferior  to  it,  except  in  cases  of  flatulent  colic.  It 
may  be  given  in  doses,  from  half  an  ounce  to  two  ounces. 

Castor  Oil. — An  effectual  and  safe  purgative  for  cattle,  in  doses 
from  twelve  ounces  to  a  pint,  and  that  will  be  properly  employed 
when  Epsom  salts  or  other  aperient  drugs  have  not  produced  their 
desired  eff"ect.  It  is  usually  made  into  a  kind  of  emulsion  with  the 
yolk  of  an  egg.  It  is,  however,  to  be  doubted  whether  it  is  much 
superior  to  a  less  expensive  purgative,  the  linseed  oil. 

Caiechu  is  an  extract  from  the  wood  of  one  of  the  acacia  trees. 
It  is  much  less  expensive  than  the  Gum  Kino,  and  it  is,  when  unadul- 
terated, more  effectual  than  that  gum  in  subduing  the  diarrhoea  of 
calves  or  adult  cattle.  The  quantity,  and  the  drugs  with  which  it 
should  be  combined,  have  beei  stated  in  p.  338. 


MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATME.^TT  OF  CATTLE.         451 

Caustics. — In  the  treatment  of  foul  in  the  foot,  these  are  indispen- 
sable, and  the  chloride  (butyr)  of  antimony  has  no  rival  in  the  cer- 
tainty with  which  it  destroys  the  fungus  or  otherwise  unhealthy 
surface  to  which  it  is  applied,  and  the  equal  certainty  of  its  destruc- 
tive power  being  confined  to  the  surface.  For  warts,  angle-berries, 
&c.,  externally  situated,  the  nitrate  of  silver  in  substance,  or  in  the 
form  of  a  strong  solution,  will  be  most  effectual ;  for  canker  in  the 
mouth,  barbs,  and  paps,  a  strong  solution  of  alum  will  be  as  useful 
as  anything;  and  in  order  to  stimulate  indolent  and  unhealthy  ulcers, 
nothing  can  compare  with  the  diluted  nitric  acid. 

Chalk. — See  Lime. 

Chamomile. — If  it  were  necessary  to  add  another  tonic  to  the 
gentian  and  Colombo,  it  would  be  the  chamomile,  and  on  the  principle 
of  not  being  so  powerful  as  either  of  the  others,  and  therefore  used 
in  somewhat  doubtful  cases,  when,  if  the  state  of  fever  has  not  quite 
passed  over,  a  stronger  stimulant  might  have  been  prejudicial. 

Charges. — These  are  thick  adhesive  plasters  spread  over  parts 
that  have  been  strained  or  weakened,  or  that  are  affected  with 
rheumatism,  and  which,  being  applied  warm,  mingle  so  with  the 
hair,  that  they  cannot  be  separated  for  a  long  time  afterwards.  They 
give  a  permanent  support  to  the  part,  and  likewise  exert  a  gentle 
but  constant  stimulating  power.  Old  cows,  weakened  and  rendered 
almost  useless  by  a  .rheumatic  affection  of  the  loins,  which  is  de- 
generating into  palsy,  often  derive  much  benefit  from  the  application 
of  a  charge.  It  is  also  useful  when  the  joints  are  the  seat  of  rheuma- 
tic lameness. 

Clysters. — The  lower  or  larger  intestines  of  cattle,  which,  al- 
though long,  are  not  capacious,  and  whose  surface  is  not  irregular 
and  cellated,  but  perfectly  smooth,  so  that  a  fluid  will  readily  pass 
along  them  and  to  their  full  extent,  will  show  the  propriety  of  hav- 
ing fi-equent  recourse  to  this  mode  of  administering  medicine.  A 
soothing  and  emollient  injection  may  be  brought  into  contact  with 
the  inflamed  and  irritable  surface  of  these  intestines ;  or,  on  the 
other  hand,  that  surface  may  be  extensively  and  beneficially  stimu- 
lated by  the  direct  application  of  purgative  medicine.  The  former 
is  a  most  important  consideration  in  diarrhoea  and  dysentery ;  and 
the  latter  is  not  of  less  moment  when  the  comparative  insensibility 
of  the  three  first  stomachs  of  cattle  is  regarded.  Much  may  be 
done  by  means  of  the  bladder  and  pipe,  but  the  newly-invented 
stomach  and  enema-pump  of  Read  enables  the  practitioner  to  derive 
from  injections  all  the  advantages  that  can  be  connected  with  their 
administration. 

Copper. — There  are  but  two  compounds  of  this  metal  that  have 
any  value  in  cattle-practice,  and  they  are  the  Blue  Vitriol,  or  sul- 
phate of  copper,  and  Verdigris,  or  acetate  of  copper.  The  use  of 
the  first  is  limited   to  the  coryza,  or  inflammation  of  and  defluxion 


462  CATTLE. 


from  the  nose  in  cattle,  accompanied  by  little  or  no  cough  or  fever, 
and  which  is  sometimes  in  a  manner  epidemic.  The  manner  of  ad- 
ministering it  is  desciibed  in  p.  183.  As  a  caustic,  the  blue  vitriol  is 
altogether  superseded  by  those  mentioned  under  that  head. 

Vekdighis  is  employed  externally  onb^  in  one  of  the  varieties  of 
foul  in  the  foot,  in  order  to  repress  fungous  growths.  It  is  mixed 
with  an  equal  portion  of  the  sugar  of  lead,  reduced  to  a  fine  powder^ 
and  sprinkled  on  the  diseased  suiface. 

CoKDiAi.s. — These  are  destructively  abused  by  many  cow-leeches, 
but,  as  has  been  again  and  again  stated,  there  is  that  in  the  structure 
and  constitution  of  cattle,  which  will  excuse  their  administration 
much  oftener  than  in  the  horse.  Except  in  extreme  cases,  and  when 
their  use  is  sanctioned  by  the  decision  of  a  competent  veterinary 
practitioner,  they  should  not  extend  beyond  good  home-brewed  ale, 
and  ginger  and  carraways. 

CoRKOSivR  Sublimate. — See  Meticury. 

Croton  Seeds. — These  can  scarcely  be  admitted  into  practice  on 
ordinary  occasions,  or  as  a  usual  purgative  ;  but  in  cases  of  phrenitis, 
tetanus,  inflammatory  fever,  and  in  tliose  strange  constipations  which 
so  often  puzzle  and  annoy,  the  Croton  seed,  in  doses  of  from  ten  to 
sixteen  grains,  may  be  allowed.  The  bowels  having  been  opened, 
the  practitioner  will  keep  up  the  purgative  action  by  means  of  a 
milder  and  safer  aperient.  The  seeds  should  be  kept  in  a  close 
bottle,  and  when  wanted,  should  be  deprived  of  their  shells,  and 
pounded  for  use.  The  farina  soon  loses  its  power,  and  the  oil  is 
shamefully  adulterated. 

Diaphoretics. — The  thick  hide  of  the  ox  forbids  us  to  expect 
much  advantage  from  those  drugs  which  are  supposed  to  have  their 
principal  influence  determined  to  the  skin,  and  thus  to  increase  the 
sensible  and  insensible  perspiration  ;  yet  emetic  tartar  and  sulphur 
are,  to  a  considerable  extent,  valuable  in  cases  of  fever — and  the 
latter  most  certainly  in  cutaneous  eruption  and  mange,  by  opening 
the  pores  of  the  skin,  or  exciting  its  vessels  to  healthy  action.  One, 
however,  of  the  best  diaphoretics  is  that  which  has  been  compara- 
tively lately  introduced  in  the  general  management  of  cattle,  viz., 
friction  applied  to  the  skin.  It  needs  but  the  slightest  observation 
to  be  convinced  that  the  health  of  the  stall-fed  beast,  a\id  his  thriv- 
ing and  getting  into  condition,  are  materially  promoted  b)  the  liberal 
use  of  the  brush,  and  sometimes  even  of  the  curry-comb. 

Digitalis  (Foxglove.) — The  leaves  of  this  plant,  gathered  about 
the  flowering  season,  dried,  kept  in  the  dark,  and  powdered  when 
wanted,  are  most  valuable  in  diminishing  the  frequency  of  the  pulse, 
and  the  general  irritability  of  the  system  in  cattle.  A  reference  to 
the  treatment  of  almost  every  febrile  disease  will  illustrate  this.  The 
dose  is  from  half  a  diachm  to  a  drachm,  with  emetic  tartar,  nitre 
and  sulphur,  and   administered  twice  or  thrice  in  the  day,  according 


MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CATTLE.         453 

to  the  urgency  of  the  case.  The  practitioner  must  not  be  alarmed 
at  the  intermittent  pulse  -which  is  produced.  It  is  by  means  of  cer- 
tain pauses  and  intermissions  in  the  action  of  the  heart,  that  the 
rapidity  of  the  circulation  is  diminished  when  this  drug  is  exhibited. 
The  intermittent  pulse  is  that  which  the  practitioner  will  be  anxious 
to  obtain,  and  which  he  will  generally  regard  as  the  harbinger  of  re- 
turning health. 

Diuretics. — They  are  allowable  and  beneficial  in  swelled  legs, 
foul  in  the  foot,  and  all  dropsical  affections,  while  they  advantageous- 
ly alternate  wiih  other  medicines  in  the  treatment  of  mange,  and  all 
cutaneous  affections,  and  in  cases  of  mild  or  chronic  fever.  Nitre 
and  liquid  turpentine  are  the  best  diuretics ;  and  almost  the  only 
ones  on  which  dependence  can  be  placed.  The  doses  have  been 
already  pointed  out. 

D KINKS. — It  is  needless  again  to  explain  the  reason  why  all  medi- 
cines that  cannot  be  concealed  in  the  food  must  be  administered  to 
cattle  in  the  form  of  drinks.  If  they  are  exhibited  in  a  solid  form, 
they  will  break  through  the  floor  of  the  oesophagean  canal,  and  enter 
the  rumen.  Farriers  and  cow-leeches,  however,  often  give  to  their 
drinks  the  force  and  momentum  of  a  ball,  by  the  large  vessels  from 
which  they  are  poured  all  at  once  down  the  throat.  There  are  few 
things  of  more  consequence  than  attention  to  the  manner  in  which  a 
drink  is  administered. 

Elder. — The  leaf  of  this  tree  is  used  boiled  in  lard.  It  forms  one 
of  the  most  soothing  and  suppling  ointments  that  can  be  applied. 
The  practitioner  should  make  his  own  elder  ointment,  for  he  will 
often  receive  from  the  druggist  an  irrit^!ting  unguent  formed  of  lard 
colored  with  verdigris,  instead  of  the  emollient  one  furnished  by  the 
elder. 

Epsom  Salts. — See  Magnesia. 

Fomentations. — If,  owing  to  the  greater  thickness  of  the  skin, 
these  are  not  quite  so  effectual  in  cattle  as  in  the  horse,  yet,  as  open- 
ing the  pores  of  the  skin  and  promoting  per>piration  in  the  part,  and 
thus  abating  local  swellings,  and  relieving  pain,  and  lessening  inflam- 
mation, they  are  often  exceedingly  serviceable.  The  practitioner  may 
use  the  decoction  of  what  herbs  he  pleases,  but  the  chief  virtue  of 
the  fomentation  depends  on  the  warmth  of  the  water. 

Gentian. — An  excellent  stomachic  and  tonic,  whether  at  the  close 
of  illness,  or  as  a  remedy  for  chronic  debility.  Its  dose  varies  from 
one  to  four  drachms,  and  should  be  almost  invariably  combined  with 
ginger. 

Ginger. — The  very  best  aromatic  in  the  list  of  cordials  for  cattle, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  carraways,  superseding  all  the  rest.  The 
dose  will  vary  from  half  a  drachm  to  four  drachms. 

Goulard's  Extract. — See  Lead. 

Hellebore,  Black. — The  root  of  it  forms  an  excellent  seton  when 


454  :;attle. 

passed  through  the  dew-lap ;  it  produces  plenty  of  swelling  and  dis- 
charge, and  rarely  or  never  runs  on  to  gangrene. 

Injections. — See  Clvsteks. 

Iodine. — The  use  of  this  mineral  is  limited  to  a  few  cases,  but 
there  its  effect  is  truly  admirable.  It  will  scarcely  ever  fail  of  dis- 
persing enlargements  of  the  glands,  or  hardened  tumors,  whether 
under  or  at  the  side  of  the  jaw,  or  round  the  joints.  One  part  of 
hydriodate  of  potash  must  be  triturated  with  seven  parts  of  lard, 
and  the  ointment  daily  and  well  rubbed  on  and  round  the  part.  In- 
durations of  the  udder  seldom  resist  its  power,  unless  the  ulcerative 
process  has  already  commenced. 

There  is  a  still  more  important  use  to  which  this  drug  may  be  ap- 
plied. It  possesses  some  power  to  arrest  the  growth  of  tubercles  in 
the  lungs,  and  even  to  disperse  them  when  recently  formed.  It  is 
only  since  the  former  part  of  this  work  was  written  that  the  attention 
of  the  author  has  been  so  strongly  directed  to  this  property  of  iodine, 
and  that  he  has  had  such  extensive  opportunities  of  putting  it  to  the 
test.  He  will  not  say  that  he  has  discovered  a  specific  for  phthisis 
or  consumption  in  cattle,  but  he  has  saved  some  tliat  would  other- 
wise have  perished,  and,  for  a  while,  prolonged  the  existence  and 
somewhat  restored  the  condition  of  more.  He  would  urge  the  pro- 
prietor of  cattle,  and  more  especially  his  fellow-practitioners,  to  study 
closely  the  symptoms  of  phthisis,  as  detailed  in  pages  272,  273  ;  to 
make  themselves  masters  of  the  inward,  feeble,  painful,  hoarse,  gurg- 
lino-  cough  of  consumption  ;  and  as  soon  as  they  are  assured  that 
this  termination  or  consequence  of  catarrh,  or  pneumonia,  or  pleurisy, 
begins  to  have  existence — that  tubercles  have  been  formed,  and,  per- 
haps, have  begun  to  suppurate,  let  them  have  recourse  to  the  iodine, 
in  the  form  of  the  hydriodate  of  potash,  given  in  a  small  mash  in 
doses  of  three  grains  morning  and  evening  at  the  commencement  of 
the  treatment,  and  gradually  increased  to  six  or  eight  grains.  To 
this  should  be  added  proper  attention  to  comfort ;  yet  not  too  much 
nursing  ;  and  free  access  to  succulent,  but  not  stimulating,  food  ; 
and  the  medicine  should  be  continued  not  only  until  the  general  con- 
dition of  the  beast  begins  to  improve,  but  until  the  character  of  the 
cough  has  been  essentially  changed. 

Ipecacuanha. — This  drug  is  used  in  the  composition  of  the  Do- 
ver's, or  compound  ipecacuanha  powder,  which  has  been  recom- 
mended by  some  practitioners  in  the  treatment  of  dysentery.  It  is 
thus  made  : — "  Take  ipecacuanha  root  powdered,  and  opium  also  in 
powder,  of  each  a  drachm,  and  sulphate  of  potash  an  ounce.  Rub 
them  together  to  a  fine  powder."  The  dose  is  from  two  to  four 
drachms.  This,  however,  is  not  an  efficient  medicine  for  such  a 
disease. 

Lard. — This  is  the  principal  basis  of  all  ointments. 
Laudakum. — See  Opium. 


MEDICINES  USED   IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CATTLE,        468 

Lead,  Sugar  of — (Superacetate  of  Lead.) — This,  mixed  with 
the  suhacetate  of  copper  (verdigris,  which  see,)  forms  a  useful  oaustic 
for  the  destruction  of  fungous  growths. 

Goulard's  Extract. — (Liquor  Plumbi  Superacetatis.) — When 
the  skin  is  unbroken,  this  preparation  of  lead  is  completely  thrown 
away,  whether  used  either  as  a  lotion  to  subdue  inflammation,  or  to 
disperse  tumors  or  effusions.  It  is  principally  serviceable,  applied 
in  a  very  dilute  form,  to  abate  inflammation  of  the  eye. 

White  Lead  (Subcarboxas  Plumbi)  is  the  basis  of  a  cooling, 
drying  ointment,  used  chiefly  for  excoriations,  or  superficial  wounds. 

Lime.  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Chalk, — This  is  a  useful  ingredient 
in  all  the  drinks  given  in  diarrhoea  or  dysentery.  In  every  stage  of 
these  diseases  there  is  a  tendency  in  the  fourth  stomach,  and  perhaps 
in  the  intestines,  to  generate  a  considerable  quantity  of  acid,  than 
which  a  greater  source  of  irritation  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  The 
chalk,  or  the  alkali  of  the  chalk,  will  unite  with  this  acid,  and  neu- 
tralize it,  and  render  it  harmless.  In  the  diarrhoea  of  the  calf  it  is 
absolutely  indispensable,  for  there  the  acid  principle  is  frequently 
developed  to  a  great  degree.  The  dose  will  vary  from  a  drachm  to 
an  ounce. 

Chloride  of  Lime. — The  list  of  medicines  for  cattle  does  not  con- 
tain anything  more  valuable  than  this.  As  a  disinfectant — if  the 
walls,  the  floor,  and  the  furniture  of  the  cow-house  or  stable,  are 
twice  or  thrice  well  washed  with  it,  the  sound  cattle  may  return  to 
the  building  with  perfect  safety,  however  contagious  may  have  been 
the  disease  of  those  that  had  previously  perished  there.  Applied  to 
the  pudenda  of  the  cow  that  has  aborted,  it  destroys  that  peculiar 
smell  which  causes  abortion  in  others,  more  readily  than  any  prepara- 
tion of  the  most  powerful  or  nauseous  ingredient.  In  blain,  garget, 
foul  in  the  foot,  and  sloughing  ulcers  of  every  description,  it  removes 
the  fetor ;  and,  if  the  process  of  decomposition  has  not  proceeded 
too  far,  gives  a  healthy  surface  to  the  ulcers  which  nothing  else 
could  bring  about — and,  administered  internally  in  blain,  in  the  ma- 
lignant epidemic,  and  in  diarrhoea  and  dysentery,  it  is  of  essential 
service.  In  the  last  disease  it  is  particularly  beneficial  in  changing 
the  nature  of  the  intestinal  discharge,  and  depriving  it  of  its  putridity 
vmd  infection,  and  disposing  'he  surface  of  the  intestine  to  take  on  a 
more  healthy  character.  Half  an  ounce  of  the  powder,  dissolved  in 
a  gallon  of  water,  will  give  a  solution  of  sufficient  strength,  both  as 
a  disinfectant  applied  to  the  cow-house,  and  for  external  and  internal 
use  as  it  regaids  the  animal. 

Linseed. — Nothing  can  compare  with  the  linseed  meal  as  an 
emollient  poultice — if  the  ulcer  is  foul,  a  little  of  the  chloride  of 
hme  should  be  mixed  with  it.  If  the  object  of  the  poultice  is  to 
bring  an  ulcer  into  a  proper  state  of  suppuration,  a  little  common 
turpentine  may  be  added  ;  but  the  cruelly -torturing  caustics  of  the 


456  CATTLE. 


cow-leech  and  the  farrier  should  never  disgrace  the  regular  practi- 
tioner. 

An  excellent  mash  in  cases  of  catarrh  or  sore-throat,  and  as  an 
emollient  in  any  intestinal  affection,  is  made  by  adding  bran  to  an 
infusion  of  linseed. 

Linseed  Oil. — This  is  little  inferior  to  castor  oil  as  a  purgative ; 
it  is  much  cheaper,  and  it  is  equally  safe.  Where  the  case  seems  to 
indicate  an  oily  purgative,  and  the  first  dose  of  castor  oil  fails,  it  may 
be  followed  up  by  smaller  doses  of  linseed  oil,  until  the  desired  effect 
is  produced. 

Magnesia,  Sulphate  of.  Epsom  Salts. — This  may  be  regarded 
as  the  staple  purgative  of  cattle.  It  is  as  safe  as  Glauber's  salts ;  it 
is  more  certain,  and  it  will  dissolve  in  one-third  of  the  quantity  of 
water.  The  first  dose  of  physic  should  always  consist  of  the  Epsom 
salts,  quickened  in  its  action,  in  extreme  cases,  by  the  farina  of  the 
Croton-nut ;  the  purgative  effect  may  be  kept  up  by  means  of  sul- 
phur or  Epsom  salts,  in  doses  of  six  ounces  of  the  former,  or  eight 
of  the  latter,  as  the  state  of  the  animal  may  appear  to  require.  The 
medium  dose  is  about  a  pound,  with  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  ginger, 
but  a  pound  and  a  half  may  be  given  to  a  large  beast  without  the 
slio^htest  dangler. 

Mashes  are  very  useful  in  cattle-practice,  not  so  much  to  prepare  for 
physic,  or  to  get  into  condition,  as  to  form  a  soothing  and  cooling 
substitute,  when  the  case  requires  a  temporary  abstinence  from  dry 
and  stimulating  food.  They  ma}'  be  composed,  like  those  of  the 
horse,  of  bran  only,  with  hot  or  cold  water  ;  or  of  bran  with  a  decoc- 
tion of  linseed.  In  cases  of  debility,  steeped  or  ground  oats  may  be 
mixed  with  the  bran,  or  malt  may  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  the 
bran  and  oats. 

Mercury.  Mercurial  Ointment. — The  practitioner  should  be 
very  cautious  in  his  use  of  this  on  cattle.  Indeed,  it  is  scarcely 
allowable  except  in  a  very  diluted  state,  and  with  the  common  sul- 
phur ointment,  in  bad  cases  of  mange  ;  or  a  small  quantity  of  it  may 
be  mixed  with  lard  for  the  destruction  of  vermin. 

Sulphate  of  Mercury,  ^thiop's  Mineral. — A  very  useful  altera- 
tive combined  with  sulphur  and  nitre,  where  there  is  any  cutaneous 
affection.  The  circumstances  under  which  it  may  be  administered, 
and  the  doses,  will  be  found  in  various  parts  of  this  work. 

Proto-chloride  of  Mercury.  Calomel. — This  should  rarely  be 
given  to  cattle,  and  never  as  a  purgative.  In  chronic  inflammation 
of  the  liver,  it  often  has  a  decidedly  injurious  effect :  in  jaundice, 
caused  by  a  gall-stone  obstructing  the  biliary  ducts,  or  in  that  of  a 
more  chronic  nature  accompanied  by  debility  and  decUning  condition, 
the  experience  of  the  writer  will  not  warrant  him  in  recommending 
the  administration  of  calomel :  he  would,  on  the  contrary,  be  disposed 
to  confine  its  use  to  dysentery,  in  which,  combined  with  and  guarded 


MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CATTLE.        457 

by  opium,  irritation  is  allayed,  while  the  natural  action  of  the  bowels 
is  promoted. 

Bichloride  or  Mercury.  Corrosive  Sublimate. — This  drug 
may  almost  be  dispensed  with  by  the  practitioner  on  cattle.  It  can 
never  be  administered  internally ;  it  is  highly  dangerous  used  exter- 
nally in  considerable  or  efficient  quantity  for  the  cure  of  mange  or  any 
cutaneous  eruption  ;  and  as  a  caustic  there  are  many  as  good. 

Mint. — An  infusion  or  decoction  of  this  plant  will  be  a  useful  vehi- 
cle in  which  other  medicines  may  be  administered  for  the  cure  of 
diarrhcea  or  colic. 

Myrrh. — The  tincture  of  myrrh  is  a  useful  application  to  wounds, 
and  is  also  applied  to  the  cankered  mouth  ;  but  it  contains  nothing  to 
render  it  preferable  to  the  tincture  of  aloes  in  the  former  case,  or  a 
solution  of  alum  in  the  latter. 

Nitre — See  Potash. 

Nitrous  Ether,  Spirit  of. — A  favorite  medicine  with  many  prac- 
titioners in  the  advanced  stages  of  fever.  It  is  said  to  rouse,  to  a 
certain  degree,  the  exhausted  powers  of  the  animal,  while  it  rarely 
brino-s  back  the  dangerous  febrile  action  that  was  subsiding,  ^t  is 
not,  however,  a  stimulant  to  which  the  author  has  often  dared  to 
have  recourse,  except  in  the  advanced  stages  of  epidemic  catarrh,  or 
the  malignant  epidemic.     The  dose  should  not  exceed  half  an  ounce. 

Nux  Vomica. — This  is  not  introduced  from  any  experience  which 
the  author  has  had  of  its  efficacy,  but  from  the  favorable  opinion 
which  some  continental  veterinarians  have  expressed  of  it  in  the  cure 
of  palsy.  The  doses  which  they  gave  consisted  of  more  than  an 
ounce.  The  author  has  tried  the  nux  vomica,  and  its  essential  prin- 
ciple, the  strj'chnine,  as  a  cure  for  palsy  in  the  dog,  but  never  with 
success. 

Opilm. — As  an  anti-spasmodic,  an  allayer  of  irritation,  and  an 
astringent  because  it  does  allay  irritation,  opium  stands  unrivalled. 
It  is  that  on  which  the  chief,  or  almost  the  only  dependence  is  placed 
in  locked-jaw.  A  colic  drink  would  lose  the  greater  part  of  its  effi- 
cacy without  it ;  and  if  it  were  left  out  of  the  medicines  for  diarrhoea 
and  dysentery,  almost  every  other  drug  would  be  administered  in 
vain.  It  is  most  conveniently  given  in  the  form  of  powder,  and  held 
in  suspension  with  other  medicines  in  thick  gruel. 

The  tincture  of  opium  (laudanum)  is  useful  in  inflammation  of  the 
eyes  ;  and  a  poultice  of  linseed  meal  made  with  a  decoction  of  poppy- 
heads,  often  has  an  admirable  eflfect  when  applied  to  irritable  ulcers, 
or  to  parts  laboring  under  much  inflammation. 

Pitch. — This  is  only  useful  as  the  principal  ingredient  in  charges, 
so  useful  in  cases  of  palsy,  or  sprain,  or  chronic  local  debility. 

Plasters. — See  Charges. 

Potash.  Nitrate  of  Nitre. — As  useful  to  cattle  as  to  the  horse. 
It  has  an  immediate  effect  in  abating  inflammation,  and  it  is  a  mild 
20 


458  CATTLE. 


diuretic.  The  dose  would  vary  from  two  to  four  drachms.  When 
dissolved  in  water,  it  much  lowers  the  temperature  of  that  fluid,  and 
therefore  the  solution,  applied  immediately  after  it  is  made,  forms  an 
excellent  application  in  cases  of  sprains,  or  where  there  is  much 
superficial  inflammation  without  any  lesion  of  the  skin.  Combined 
with  antimonial  powder,  or  emetic  tartar  and  digitalis,  it  forms  an 
almost  indispensable  ingredient  in  every  fever  drink. 

Sulphur  of  Potash. — An  ingredient  in  the  Dover's  powder. 

Poultices. — These  are  justly  valued  for  abating  inflammation, 
cleansing  wounds,  and  disposing  them  to  heal.  In  some  cases  of  foul 
in  the  foot,  and  especially  in  that  most  painful  and  occasionally  fatal 
variety  whose  immediate  seat  is  at  the  division  of  the  pasterns,  also 
in  ulcers  about  the  throat  or  joints,  and  in  garget,  poultices  can 
scarcely  be  dispensed  with.  The  basis  will  generally  be  linseed  meal, 
rendered  even  more  soothing  by  opium  ;  or  to  which  activity  may  be 
given  by  the  addition  of  common  turpentine  or  chloride  of  lime. 

Rye,  Ergot  of. — The  spuned  rye  has  lately,  and  with  considera- 
ble advantage,  been  introduced  into  veterinary  practice  in  protracted 
or  i^flicult  parturition,  in  order  to  stimulate  the  uterus  to  renewed 
and  increased  action,  when  the  labor  pains  appeared  to  be  subsiding. 

Setons. —  The  use  of  setons  in  practice  on  the  diseases  of  cattle  is 
in  a  manner  limited  to  the  passing  of  a  piece  of  hair,  rope,  or  of  black 
hellebore  root  through  the  dev/lap  ;  and,  as  exciting  inflammation  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  diseased  part,  and  thus  lessening  the  original 
one,  and  causing  a  determination -of  blood  to  a  greater  or  less  extent 
to  this  new  seat  of  irritation,  tiiey  are  useful  both  in  acute  and  chronic 
inflammation  of  tlie  respiratory  organs.  In  young  cattle  rapidly 
thrivii.g,  and  placed  in  pasture  perhaps  a  little  too  luxuriant,  perma- 
nent setons  are  higlily  beneficial.  They  act  as  a  salutary  drain,  and 
prevent  that  accumulation  of  tiie  circulating  fluid,  which  is  the  usual 
cause  of  inflammatory  fever  and  other  fatal  complaints. 

Sulphate  of  Soda.  Glauber's  Salts. — A  very  common  purgative 
for  cattle  ;  and  a  very  good  one,  but  inconvenient  on  account  of  its 
requiring  three  times  its  weight  of  water  in  order  to  dissolve  it,  and 
also  on  account  of  its  so  readily  efflorescing  when  it  is  exposed  to 
the  atmosphere,  and  in  this  state  of  efllorescence  or  powder,  becoming 
more  purgative  than  when  in  its  crystalline  form.  The  practitioner 
sometimes  finds  it  a  little  difificult  to  calculate  the  amount  of  the  dose 
which  he  should  give,  on  account  of  this  variation  in  form  and  effect ; 
and  this  may  explain  the  occasional  uncertainty  of  the  Glauber's  salts. 
The  Epsom  salts,  a  veiy  little  dearer,  dissolving  in  its  own  weight  of 
water,  and  retaining  the  same  form  and  the  same  purgative  power 
under  every  state  of  the  atmosphere  or  of  exposure  to  it,  is  now 
rapidly  superseding  the  Glauber's. 

Chloride  of  Sodium.  Common  Salt. — The  experience  of  almost 
every  farmer  will  now  confirm  the  benefit  derived  from  the  mixturtf 


MEDICINES  USED  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CATTLE.        459 

of  salt  with  the  food  of  cattle.  It  appears  to  be  the  natural  and 
universal  stimulus  to  the  digestive  organs  of  animated  beings,  in 
this  place,  however,  its  medicinal  power  alone  is  the  subject  of  con- 
sideration. It  is  a  purgative,  second  to  the  Epsom  salts  in  the  first 
instance  ;  and,  whether  from  the  effect  of  the  change  of  medicine,  or 
of  some  chemical  composition  or  decomposition  which  takes  place,  it 
is  the  surest  aperient  that  can  be  given  when  the  Epsom  salts  has 
failed ;  but  the  writer  does  once  more  indignantly  protest  against  the 
disgraceful,  beastly  menstruum  in  which  it  is  frequently  administered. 
It  is  a  tonic  as  well  as  a  purgative,  and  therefore  perhaps  somewhat 
objectionable  in  the  early  stage  of  fever.  It  frequently  recalls  the 
appetite  more  speedily  than  any  stomachic.  When  a  dose  of  it  is 
given  to  the  animal  recovering  from  acute  disease,  debilitated,  listless, 
careless  about  or  refusing  its  food,  it  sometimes  has  an  almost  magi- 
cal effect  in  creating  a  disposition  to  feed.  It  is  a  vermifuge  which, 
in  cattle,  seldom  fails. 

Silver,  Nitrate  of.  Lunar  Caustic. — Used  for  the  destruction 
of  warts,  either  in  its  solid  state,  or  that  of  a  strong  solution  ; 
and,  from  the  full  command  which  the  operator  has  over  it,  and  the 
firm  eschar  which  it  forms,  is  the  very  best  caustic  that  can  be  applied 
to  a  wound  inflicted  by  the  bite  of  a  rabid  dog. 

Sulphur. — A  very  good  aperient  when  the  object  is  merely  to 
evacuate  the  bowels,  or  when  there  is  any  cutaneous  affection  ;  but 
not  sufficiently  powerful  in  cases  of  fever :  yet  even  there  purgation, 
once  established,  may  be  kept  up  by  means  of  it.  The  dose  varies 
from  eight  to  tw^elve  ounces.  As  an  alterative  for  hide-bound,  mange, 
or  generally  unthrifty  appearance,  it  is  excellent  combined  with 
^thiop's  mineral  and  nitre  ;  and  it  constitutes  the  basis  of  every 
ointment  for  the  cure  of  mange. 

Tonics. — These  are  indicated  in  cases  of  great,  and  especially  of 
chronic  debility,  but,  administered  injudiously,  they  have  destroyed 
thousands  of  beasts.  They  have  done  so  when  they  have  been  poured 
in  while  the  fever  continued,  or  too  soon  after  the  subsidence  of  the 
fever,  and  when  too  great  a  disposition  to  its  reappearance  prevailed. 
When  disease  has  been  once  removed,  the  powers  of  nature  are 
usually  sufficient  to  re-establish  health.  Gentian,  Colombo,  and  cas- 
carilla,  are  the  best,  and  almost  the  only  safe  tonics  for  cattle. 

TumiERic,  or  colored  pea-flour,  for  it  is  seldom  anything  more,  is 
fit  only  to  give  that  yellow  color  to  cattle-medicines,  which  long  usage 
has  accustomed  the  cow-herd  and  the  cow-leech  to  consider  as  indis- 
pensable. 

Turpentine. — Several  of  the  products  of  the  fir  tree  are  more  or 
less  useful  in  the  medical  treatment  of  cattle. 

Tar,  spread  upon  coarse  cloth,  is  the  best  covering  for  broken 
horns,  and  excludes  both  the  fly  and  the  atmospheric  air.  It  is  use- 
ful for  the  ^ame  purpose  in  cases  of  wounds  puncturing  the  belly  or 


460  CATTLE. 


chest.  Alone,  or  in  combination  with  some  greasy  matter,  it  is  used 
to  defend  sore  diseased  feet  from  becomincr  wet  or  bruised. 

Pitch  is  the  principal  ingredient  in  plasters. 

Common  Liquid  Turpentine  is  useful  as  a  digestive,  or  to  produce 
a  healthy  appearance  or  action  in  wounds,  and  dispose  them  to  heal. 
For  this  purpose  it  is  added  to  the  linseed  poultice  or  to  the  simple 
ointment.  Some  practitioners  administer  it  as  a  diuretic,  and  with 
good  effect. 

Oil,  or  Spirit  of  turpentine,  is  applied  as  an  external  irritant, 
either  alone,  or  in  the  form  of  a  tincture  of  cantharides.  It  is  admin- 
istered internally  in  colic ;  and  some  give  it  in  red-water  with  a  view 
to  cause  the  debilitated  blood-vessels  to  contract,  and  thus  arrest  the 
passive  haemorrhage  which  they  imagine  is  then  taking  place.  From 
the  rapidity  and  great  extent  Avith  which  it  is  taken  up  by  the  absorb- 
ents, and  carried  into  the  circulaiion,  and  the  destructive  effect 
which  it  is  known  to  have  on  intestinal  worms  when  otherwise 
brought  into  contact  with  them,  the  trial  of  its  power  would  be  justi- 
fied in  bronchitis,  the  too  frequent  and  fatal  concomitant  of  which  is 
the  presence  of  thousands  of  worms  in  the  air- passages. 

Resin  is  often  used  to  give  consistence  to  plasters,  where  the 
degree  of  irration  which  it  might  produce  is  not  regarded,  or  would 
be  beneficial. 

Vinegar. — This  used  to  be  considered  almost  a  specific  in  disten- 
sion of  the  rumen  with  gas,  but  on  what  principle  it  would  be  difficult 
to  explain.  It  has  also  been  given  with  manifest  impropriety  in  cases 
of  fever.  On  the  thick  skin  of  the  ox  it  can  have  little  preference  to 
hot  water  as  a  fomentation,  and  may  with  no  great  loss  be  erased 
from  the  list  of  medicines. 

Wax. — Its  only  use  is  to  give  consistence  to  ointments  and  plasters. 

Zinc.  Native  Carbonate  of  Calamine. — This  is  the  basis  of  an 
ointment  which,  from  its  soothing,  and,  at  the  same  time,  drying 
qualities,  is  termed,  in  various  parts  of  this  work,  "  the  healing  oint- 
ment." It  is  useful  in  superficial  wounds,  and  in  deeper  ones  when 
they  have  been  brought  to  a  healthy  character. 

White  Vitriol. — This  is  a  useful  tonic  application  to  the  eyes, 
when  the  inflammation  has  been  subdued,  and  debility  of  the  vessels 
alone  remains.  It  is  particularly  useful  after  inflammation  of  the  haw 
of  the  eye.  Some  administer  it  in  red-water,  and  others  in  dysentery 
Tery  improperly.  As  a  general  caustic  ii  is  superseded  by  many 
others. 


INDEX. 


A.BER  5EENSHIRE  cattlo,  description  of  the, 

52,  53,  54. 
Aberdeenshire  cattle,  origin  of  the  present 

breed  of,  53. 
Abomasura,  the  internal  structure  of,  286, 

2^,  290,  293. 
Abomasum,  diseases  of  the,  317. 
Abortion,  the  symptoms  of.  382 
Abor  ion,  the  usual  causes  of,  383. 
Abortion,  precautions  to  prevent  the  re- 
currence of,  386. 
Age,  the  natural,  of  cittle,  194. 
Age,  as  indicated  by  the  horns,  150. 
Age,  as  indicated  by  the  teeth,  188. 
Aislaby  family  of  Durham  and  Studley, 

112. 
Alderney  cattle,  account  of  them,  138. 
Althorp,  Lord,  cut  of  his  bull,  109. 
Althorp,  Lord,  cuts  of  his  cow  and  heifer, 

106,  1U7. 
Aloes,  noi  a  good  purgative  for  cattle, 

447. 
Alteratives,  their  nature,  and  the  best 

composition  of  them,  448. 
Alum,  the  medicinal  properties  of,  448. 
Ammonia,  the  medicinal  properties  of, 

449. 
Anglesey  eattle,  description  of,  39. 
Angus  polled  cattle,  71. 
Angus  polled  cattle,  difference   between 

them  and  the  Galloways,  72 
AntiTnony,  the  medicinal  properties  of. 

449. 
Apoplexy,  symptoms  and   treatment  of, 

164. 
Argyleshire,  description  of  the  cattle,  and 

their  management,  47. 
Arteries,  their  structure  and  functions, 

222. 
Arteries,  the  smallness  of,  in  the  ox,  com- 
pared with  the  veins,  217. 
Astringents,  the  best  for  cattle,  449. 
Ayrshire  cow,  Mr.  Alton's  description  of 

her,  55. 
Ayrshire  cow,  origin  of,  56,  57. 
Ayrshire  cow,  the  present,  59. 


Ayrshire  cow,  compared  with  the  Alder- 
ney,  Holderness,  and  Devon,  60. 

Ayrshire  cow,  the  quantity  of  her  milk, 
and  the  quantity  of  butter,  59,  60. 

Badsvvorth,  Mr.  Mitton's  old  bull,  de- 
scription of,  126. 

Bakewell,  Mr  ,  the  great  improver  of  the 
long  horns,  83. 

Bakewell,  Mr.,  his  supposed  principles,  as 
stated  by  Mr.  Marshall,  84. 

Bakewell,  Mr.,  description  of  his  cattle, 
85. 

Bakewell,  Mr.,  his  benevolent  character, 
85. 

Barbs  in  the  mouth,  treatment  of,  206. 

Bars  of  the  mouth,  description  of,  186. 

Berry,  the  Hev.  H.,  his  account  of  the 
short  horns,  95 

Bile,  the  composition  and  uses  of,  320,  331, 

Black  water,  the  nature  and  treatment  of, 
373. 

Bladder,  inversion  of  the,  331 

Bladder,  protrusion  of,  treatment  of,  S98. 

Bladder,  on  rupture  of  the,  380. 

Bladder,  stone  in  the,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  378. 

Blain,  the  symptoms  and  treatment  of,l96. 

Blain,  contagious,  197. 

Blain,  sometimes  epidemic,  197. 

Bleeding,  the  rule  by  which  it  should  be 
guided,  218. 

Bleeding,  places,  the  preferable,  218 

Blisters,  the  difficulty  of  raising  them  in 
cattle,  266. 

Blood,  ietermination  of  to  the  brain,  163. 

Blown— See  "  Hoove." 

Bloxedge,  the  sire  of  the  long-homs,  an 
account  of  him,  83. 

Bolinbroke,  an  early  short-horn  bull,  an 
account  of  him,  99. 

Bone  of  the  heart,  description  of  the,  222. 

Brain,  description  of  the,  153. 

Brain,  inflammation  of  the,  164. 

Brain,  hydatids  in  the,  162. 

Breast  bone,  description  of  the,  238. 


INDEX. 


Breast,  the  projecting  and  wide,  advan- 
tage of,  237,  238. 

Brisket,  description  of  the,  239. 

Brisliet,  remarkable  deepness  of,  in  some 
cattle,  240. 

British  cattle,  early  history  of,  11. 

British  cattle,  the  original  were  probabh 
middle-horned,  13. 

Bronchitis,  nature  and  treatment  of,  262. 

Bronchitis,  the  air-passages  filled  with 
worms  in,  263. 

Butter,  experiments  to  ascertain  the  vari- 
ous quantities  of,  from  different  breeds, 
133. 

C^cum,  description  of  the,  330,  332. 

Casarian   operation,  description  of,  and 

when  justifiable,  393. 
Calamine,  the  basis  of  the  best  healing 
ointment  for,  450. 

Calculi  in  the  rumen  of  cattle,  299,  360, 

Calculi  in  the  kidney,  composition,  symp- 
toms, and  treatment  of,  377. 

Calculi,  urnary,  ditto,  378. 

Colombo,  a  useful  tonic,  450. 

Calomel,  the  cases  in  which  it  should  be 
used,  450. 

Calves,  diseases  and  management  of,  421. 

Calving,  the  treatment  of  the  cow  before 
it,  387. 

Calving,  natural,  the  treatment  of,  388. 

Calving,  the  power  of  ergot  of  rye  in  ex- 
citing the  labor  pains,  389. 

Calving,  the  management  of  unnatural 
presentations,  391. 

Calvin?,  when  the  calf  should  be  cut  away, 
and  description  of  the  operation,  395. 

Calving,  on  retention  of  the  foetus,  393. 

Calving,  attention  to  the  cow  after  it.  399. 

Camphor,  its  medicinal  properties,  450 

Cancer  of  the  eye,  treatment  of,  162. 

Cantharides,  the  basis  of  the  best  blister 
application,  450. 

Capillary  vessels,  description  of  them,  223. 

Carotid  artery,  description  of  the,  205, 
206. 

Carraway,  a  useful  aromatic,  450. 

Castor  oil,  the  use  of  it  as  a  medicine,  450. 

Castration  of  calves,  the  various  methods 
_  of,  426. 

Castration  will  often  remove  rupture  in 
the  calf,  364. 

Cataract,  treatment  of,  162. 

Catarrh,  nature  and  treatment  of,  246. 

Catarrh,  the  necessity  of  attention  to  it 
on  its  first  appearance,  247. 

Catarrh ,  epidemic,  symptoms  of,  247. 

Catechu,  its  useful  astringent  properties, 
450. 

Cattle,  the  proper  points  of.  generally,  16, 

Cattle,  wild,  account  of,  11,  12. 

Caustics,  those  used  in  cattle  practice, 
4.50. 

Chalk,  its  utility  in  the  treatment  of  dy- 
sentery and  diarrhoea,  346,  451. 

Chamomile,  its  tonic  properties,  451 


Charge,  Mr.,  an  account  of  his  fat  seven* 

year-old  ox,  104. 
Charges,  the  use  of,  and  the  method  of 

applying,  451. 
Chest,  the  advantage  of  a  capacious  one 

in  cattle,  16. 
Chest,  the  proper  form  of,  236. 
Chloride  of  lime,  the  value  of,  .308.  455. 
Choking  in  cattle,  treatment  of,  279,  281. 
Chyle,  its  nature  and  formation,  331. 
Cleansing. — See  Placenta. 
Cleansing  drink,  the  best,  400. 
Clue-bound,  treatment  of,  313,  314 
Clysters,  the  benefit  of,  451. 
Coate.s,  iSIr.  G.,  the  author  of  the  "  Short- 
Horned  Herd  Book,"  102 
Colic,  flatulent,  its  symptoms,  nature,  and 

treatment,  348. 
Colic,  spasmodic,  its  symptoms,  nature. 

and  treatment,  350. 
Colic,  spasmodic,  too  ©ften  leads  on  to 

strangulation  of  the  intestines,  350.' 
Colling,  Mr.  Charles,  97. 
Colling,  Mr.  Charles,  an  account  of  the 

cross  of  his  cattle  with  the  Galloway, 

Colling,  Mr.  Charles,  a  detailed  account 
of  his  sale  of  the  improved  short-homa, 
100. 

Colling,  Robert,  a  successful  improver  of 
the  short-horns,  110. 

Colling,  Robert,  the  sale  of  his  stock,  109. 

Colon,  description  of  the,  330,  332. 

Colors,  the  prevailing  ones  of  short-homs. 
109. 

Constipation,  the  treatment  of,  355,  423. 

Consumption,  nature  and  treatment,  272. 

Consumption,  the  peculiar  cough  of,  274. 

Consumption,  delusive  character  and  pro- 
gress of,  274. 

Copper,  the  compounds  of,  used  in  cattle 
practice,  451. 

Cordials,  the  use  and  abuse  of,  452. 

Cords,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  351. 

Cork-screw  probang,  description  of  the, 
282.  _ 

Corrosive  sublimate,  its  use  in  cattle  prac- 
tice, 4-52. 

Corrosive  sublimate,  the  treatment  of  poi- 
soning by,  311. 

Coryza,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  182. 

Cow-pox,  distinction  between  the  true  and 

^  the  false,  420. 

Cow-pox,  history  of  its  establishment  as 
a  preventive  against  small-pox,  420. 

Craven,  the  native  country  of  the  long- 
horns,  81. 

Cravens,  two  distinct  breeds  of,  the  small- 
er and  larger,  81. 

Croton,  a  powerful  purgative,  4.52. 

Cud,  loss  of  the,  treatment  of,  309. 

D.  Mr.  B.\kewell's  bull,  account  of,  86 
Derbyshire  cattle,  account  of,  93. 
Devon  cattle,  15. 
Devon  cattle,  for  the  dairy.  23. 


INDEX. 


Devon  ox,  his  activity  his  most  valuable 
quality,  22. 

Devon  OS,  his  qualities  for  grazing,  23. 

Devon  ox.  trial  of  his  fattening  properties 
•with  different  breeds,  69,  70. 

Devon,  South,  the  cattle  of,  24,  25. 

Devon,  South,  comparison  between  them 
and  the  Uevons,  25. 

Diaphragm,  rupture  of  the,  365. 

Diarrhoea,  acute,  the  nature  and  treat- 
ment of,  338. 

Diarrhoea,  distinction  between  it  and  dy- 
sentery, 338. 

Diarrhoea,  chronic,  the  nature  and  treat- 
ment of,  3:59. 

Diarrhoea  in  calves,  nature  and  treatment 
of,  424. 

Digitalis,  its  medicinal  properties,  452. 

Distension  of  the  rumen  by  food,  nature 
and  treatment  of,  301. 

Distension  of  the  rumen  by  gas,  nature 
and  treatment  of,  303. 

Dropsy,  general  rernaiks  on  the  causes  and 
treatment  of,  358. 

Drying  a  cow,  the  proper  period  for,  388. 

Duodenum,  description  of  the,  330. 

Durham  ox,  an  account  of  the,  98. 

Dysentery,  causes  and  symptoms  of,  3-ro. 

Dysentery,  appearances  of,  after  death, 
342 

Dysentery  is  inflammation  of  the  mucous 
membrane  of  the  large  intestines,  343. 

Dysentery,  treatment  of  it,  342 

Dysentery,  the  value  of  the  chloride  of 
lime  in  the  treatment  of  it,  345. 

Ear,  description  of  the,  154. 

Ear,  the  form  and  shape  of,  connected 
with  the  beauty  of  the  animal,  154. 

Ear,  the  diseases  of  the,  154. 

Earth,  the  eating  of  it,  prevents  the  fer- 
mentation of  the  food,  187. 

East  Indian  «attle,  an  account  of  the,  149. 

Elder,  the  leaves  of,  make  a  good  soothing 
ointment,  453. 

Embryotomy,  when  justifiable,  and  a  de- 
scription of  the  operation,  395. 

Emetic,  tartar,  the  use  of,  449. 

Enteritis,  symptoms  of,  'SUA. 

Enteritis,  appearances  after  death,  335. 

Enteritis,  causes  and  treatment  of,  336. 

Epidemic  catarrh. — See  Catarrh. 

Epidemics — See  Murrain. 

Epidemic  sore  feet  and  mouth  of  1840  and 
1841,  2.56. 

Epilepsy,  the  treatment  of,  171. 

Epsom  salt,  the  best  purgative,  453. 

Ergot  of  rye,  its  power  in  stimulating  the 
womb  to  action,  3S9. 

Exeter,  description  of  the  vale  of,  25. 

Eye,  general  description  of  the,  156. 

Eye,  inflammation  of  the,  the  nature  and 
treatment  of,  159. 

Eye,  worm  in  the,  treatment  of,  162. 

Eye,  wound?  of  the,  managemecv  of,  156 

Eyelids,  description  of  the,  1^ 


Eyelids,  diseases  of  the,  157. 

Farcy  in  cattle,  183. 

Fardel-bouud,  description  of  it,  313. 

Feet,  the,  description  of,  143. 

Feet,  diseases  of  the,  4S2,  433. 

Feet,  epidemic  sore,  of  l&4i),  and  '41,  256. 

Fever,  intermittent,  its  symptoms  and 
treatment,  225. 

Fever,  pure  or  idiopathic,  often  exist  does 
in  cattle,  224. 

Fever,  pure  or  idiopathic,  its  symptoms 
and  treatment,  224. 

Fever,  symptomatic,  frequent  and  danger- 
ous, 225. 

Fever,  inflammatory,  its  nature  and  treat- 
ment, 225. 

Fever,  typhus,  its  nature  and  treatment, 
233. 

Firing,  an  advantageous  mode  of,  for  some 
bony  tumors,  15d'. 

Fits,  the  treatment  of,  171. 

Flooding  after  calving,  treatment  of,  401. 

Fluke-worm,  the,  a  cause  of  jaundice,  326. 

Foetus,  retention  of  it  for  a  long  time 
without  injury,  398. 

Food,  its  changes  in  the  stomachs,  294. 

Food,  how  conveyed  into  the  reticulum, 
295. 

Forehead  of  a  bull,  the,  should  be  short 
and  broad,  145. 

Forehead  of  the  Devon,  description  of,  18. 

Foul  in  the  foot,  description  of,  433. 

Foul  in  the  foot,  most  prevalent  in  low, 
marshy  countrie-,  434. 

Foul  in  the  foot,*mode  of  treatment  of,  434. 

Foul  in  the  foot,  probable  advantages  of 
neurotomy  in,  437, 

Fowler,  Mr.,  an  improver  of  the  long- 
horns,  86. 

Fowler,  Mr.,  account  of  the  sale  of  bia 
stock,  87. 

Free-martins,  usually  barren,  392. 

Free-martins,  dis.section  of  three,  393. 

Free-martins,  a  few  cases  in  which  they 
have  bred,  393 

Frontal  sinuses,  description  of,  143,  144. 

Frontal  sinuse-,  use  of  the,  145,  146. 

Frontal  sinuses,  inflammation  of  the,  na- 
ture and  treatment  of,  146. 

Frontal  sinuses,  worms  in  the,  147. 

Gat.l-bladder,  the  struciure  and  use  of, 

320. 
Gall-stones,  their  composition,  324. 
Gall-stones,  frequent  cause  of  jaundice, 

325. 
Galloway,  the  greater  part  of  the  cattle 

were  horned  at  the  middle  of  the  last 

century,  63. 
Galloway,  the  present  breed  of,  63,  64. 
Galloways,  Mr.    Culley's  description  of, 

6G. 
Galloway  cows  not  good  milkers,  67. 
Galloway  bull,  a  perfect  one  seldom  found. 


404 


INDEX. 


Galloways  cows  occasionally  have  horns,  , 

151. 
Gangrenous  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 

symptoms  and  treatment  of,  268. 
Garget,  the  cause  of,  408,  409,  410. 
Garget,  the  eflScacy  of  iodine  in,  409,  410. 
Garget,  the  state  of  the  veins  of  the  udder 

in,  236. 
Gas,  the  kind    of,  extricated  in  hoove, 

307. 
Gentian,  the  hest  tonic,  4o3. 
Ginger,  the  best  aromatic.  453. 
Girth,  the,  of  cattle,  should  be  both  deep 

and  wide,  16. 
Glamorganshire  cattle,  early  history  of, 

37. 
Glamorganshire  cattle,  deteriorated  when 

they  were  neglected  for  the  growth  of 

corn,  38. 
Glanders  in  cattle,  on,  183. 
Glauber's  salt,  inferior  to  the  Epsom,  453. 
Gloss-anthrax,  the  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  196. 
Gutta  serena,  cause  and  treatment  of,  162. 
(jrut-tie,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  351. 

Hair,  cattle  should  be  covered  with  a 

thick  pile  of,  17. 
Haunch,  desr;ription  of  the.  143. 
Haw,  description  of  the,  158. 
Haw,  inflammation  of  the,  1-38 
Haw,  method  of  extirpating  the,  151. 
Head,  section  of  the,  144. 
Heart,  description  of  the,  220.  221. 
Heart,  theory  of  its  action,  221. 
Heart,  the  muscular  columns  and  tendi- 
nous coeds  of  it  stronger  in  the  ox  than 

the  horse,  221. 
Heart,  a  muscle  running  across  the  right 

ventricle,  peculiar  to  the  ox,  222. 
Heart,  description  of  the  bone  of  it,  222. 
Hebrides,  history  and  description  of  the, 

41. 
Hebrides  history,  disgraceful  management 

of  cattle  formerly,  43. 
Hebrides,  accounts  of  the  misery  of  the 

cattle  in  the  winter,  43. 
Hebrides,  present  management,  44. 
Hebrides,  no  crosses  with  any  other  breed 

have  succeeded  in  these  islands,  45. 
Hebrides,  20,000  cattle  annually  exported 

from  them,  46. 
Hebrides,  the   outer,  description  of  the 

cattle  of,  46. 
Hellebore,  black,  makes  the  best  seton, 

453. 
Hemlock,  the  treatment  of  poisoning  by, 

110. 
Hemorrhage  from  the  nose,  on,  181. 
Hemorrhage  after  parturition,  the  treat- 
ment of.  401. 
Herd-book,  the  short-horned,  compiled  by 

Mr.  G.  Coates.  102. 
Hereford  cattle,  description  of  the,  29. 
Hereford    cattle,    comparison    between 

them  and  the  Devons,  29. 


Hereford  cattle,  their  propensity  to  fatten, 
29. 

Hereford  cattle,  comparison  between  the 
old  and  new  breeds,  29. 

Hereford  cattle,  have  been  crossed  with 
advantage  by  the  Devons,  30. 

Hereford  cow,  inferior  in  shape  to  the  ox, 
31. 

Hereford  cow,  not  good  for  dairy,  30,  32 

Hernia,  the  nature  and  treatment  of, 
361. 

Hernia  in  calves,  management  of,  363. 

Hide  of  cattle,  should  be  thin,  mellow, 
and  not  too  loose,  17. 

Hide-bound,  the  treatment  of,  4.38. 

Hips,  the,  of  cattle  should  be  large  and 
round,  17. 

Hock,  description  of  the,  143. 

Holderness  cattle,  the  old,  135. 

Holderness  cattle,  their  improvement,  136. 

Honeycomb  — See  Reticulum. 

Hooped  form  of  the  barrel,  in  cattle,  im- 
portance of,  16. 

Horns,  description  of  the.  l43. 

Horns  are  elongafions  if.  and  hollowed 
like,  the  frontal  bones,  148. 

Horns,  the  different  breeds  of  cattle  dis- 
tinguished by,  13,  151. 

Horns,  the  influence  of  sex  on  the,  151. 

Horns,  as  eonnected  with  the  age  of  th« 
beast,  150. 

Horns,  the  danger  of  cutting  them,  147. 

Horns,  fracture  of  them,  how  treated,  149. 

Horns,  the  degree  of  fever,  how  estimated 
by  means  of  them,  1-50. 

Horns,  tenderness  of  the  roots  accounted 
for,  151. 

Horned  and  hornless  breed.=,  comparison 
between  them,  152. 

Flornv  covering,  composition  and  growth 
of  the,  150. 

Hoose. — See  Tatarrh. 

Hoose,  in  calves,  the  treatment  of,  425. 

Hoove,  the  cause  of,  303. 

Hoove,  symptoms  and  treatment  of.  303. 

Hoove,  medicines  administered  in,  do  not 
enter  the  stomach,  304. 

Hoove,  objections  to  puncturing  the  ra- 
men  in,  305. 

Hoove,  danger  of  a  large  incision,  306. 

Hoove,  when  the  rumen  is  punctured,  it 
should  be  with  a  trocar  and  canula,  306. 

Hoove,  the  use  of  the  probang,  or  stomach- 
pump,  recommended,  .306. 

Hoove,  the  nature  of  the  gas  which  is  ex- 
tricated in,  307. 

Hoove,  the  treatment  of,  when  the  gas 
has  escaped,  303. 

T'owick  red  ox,  an  account  of,  104. 

tlubbac'f,  the  father  of  the  improved 
short-horns,  account  of  him,  97. 

Hydatids  in  the  brain,  symptoms  and 
treatment  of,  162. 

Hydatids,  numerous,  found  in  the  liver  of 
a  cow,  322. 

Hydrocephalus,  treatment  of,  16S 


NDEX 


465 


Ileum,  description  of  the,  330,  331. 

In-and-in,  the  prineifjle  of  breeding 
adopted  by  Bakewell,  ^5. 

Inflammation,  tbe  nature  and  general 
treatment  of,  223. 

Inflammatory  fever,  causes,  symptoms, 
and  prevention  of,  22-5. 

Inflammatory  fever,  treatment  of,  229. 

Intestines,  description  of  the,  329. 

Intestines,  the  diseases  of  the,  333. 

Intestines,  inflammation  of  'the  external 
coat  of  the. — See  Enteritis. 

Intestines,  inflammation  of  the  mucous 
coat  of. — See  Diarrhoea  and  Dysentery. 

Inversion  of  the  rectum,  3-34. 

Inversion  of  the  womb,  395. 

Iodine,  the  admirable  use  of,  454. 

Ireland,  the  establishment  of  the  short- 
horns in,  80. 

Irish  cattle,  the  middle-horns  an  aborigi- 
nal breed,  77 

Irish  cattle,  long-horns,  probably  derived 
from  Lancashire,  78. 

Irish  cattle,  long-horns,  two  diflFerent 
kinds  of,  80. 

Jaundice,  causes  of,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment, 323. 

Jejunum,  description  of  the,  330,  331. 

Jenner,  Dr.,  his  discovery  of  the  pre- 
ventive power  of  the  cow-pox,  420. 

Joint  murrian,  its  treatment,  226. 

Joints  opened,  the  treatment  of,  431. 

Joints,  swellings  of  them,  the  causes  and 
treatment  of,  429. 

Jugular  vein,  description  of  the,  204. 

Kerry,  the  cow  of,  description  of,  78. 

Kidneys,  anatomical  structure  of  the,  366. 

Kidneys,  inflammation  of  the,  causes, 
symptoms,  and  treatment  of,  374. 

Kidneys,  calculi  in,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  377. 

Kintore  ox,  53. 

Knee,  description  of  the,  143. 

Kyloe,  origin  of  the  term,  42. 

Laryxgite.s,  the  treatment  of,  259. 

Lead,  the  usual  preparations  of,  455 

Legs,  the,  of  cattle  should  be  short,  17. 

Leicester  new  breed,  inquiry  into  the 
value  of,  88. 

Leicester  new  breed,  improved  the  whole 
breed  of  long-horns,  89 

Leicester  new  breed,  superseded  by  the 
short-horns,  92. 

Lice,  how  produced,  and  the  method  of 
destroying  them,  442. 

Lime,  the  chloride  of,  an  excellent  disin- 
fectant, 231. 

Lincolnshire  cattle,  description  of,  136. 

Linseed,  experiments  on  its  fattening  pro- 
perties,  71. 

Linseed  meal,  excellent  for  poultices,  455. 

Linseed  oil,  a  good  purgative,  456. 

Lips,  description  and  use  (^  185. 
20* 


Lip,  upper,  the  use  of  the  numerous  glands 
in,  186. 

Liquids,  the  circumstances  under  which 
they  ei  ter  the  rumen.  297 

Liver,  the  structure  and  functions  of,  320. 

Liver,  on  inflammation  of  the,  321. 

Liver,  the  difficulty  of  detecting  chronic 
inflammation  of,  322. 

Liver,  on  hemorrhage  from  it,  322. 

Loiig-horns.  the.  appear  to  have  origi- 
nated in  Craven,  81. 

Long-horns,  two  distinct  breeds  of,  the 
smaller  and  the  larger,  81. 

Long-horns,  the  history  of  the  improve- 
ment of,  ^S. 

Loss  of  cud,  nature  and  treatment  of,  309 

Loss  of  cud,  more  a  symptom  of  disease 
than  a  separate  disease,  309. 

Lungs,  the,  their  structure,  245,  264. 

Lungs,  inflammation  of,  symptoms  and 
treatment  of,  264 

Lungs,  inflammation  of,  acute  and  epi- 
demic, its  occasional  devastations,  267. 

Madness,  causes  and  treatment  of^  177. 

Mange,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  439. 

Manvplus,  internal  construction  of  the, 
288,  289,  292. 

Manyplus,  the  manner  in  which  it  reduces 
the  food  to  a  pulpy  mass.  298. 

Manyplus,  the  diseases  of,  313. 

Manyplus,  the  occasional  strangely  hard- 
ened state  of  its  contents,    314. 

Meath,  the  improvement  of  Irish  cattle 
commenced  in.  79. 

Mercury,  the  diff"erent  preparations  of  it 
used,  456. 

Mesenteric  glands,  their  structure  and 
use,  333. 

Mesenteric  glands,  enlargement  of  them, 
333. 

Mesentery,  description  of  the,  330,  331.  _ 

Middle-horns,  the,  were  probably  the  ori- 
ginal cattle,  13. 

Milk,  the  average  quantity  of,  yielded  by 
the  Yorkshire  cow,  133. 

Milk  fever,  its  nature  and  treatment,  401. 

Milk  fever,  the  importance  of  purging  in, 
403,  405. 

Milk  vein,  description  of  the,  210,  219. 

Milk  vein,  importance  of  a  large  one,  132. 

Moor-ill,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  336. 

Motor  organic  nerves,  account  of  the,  205. 

Mouth,  account  of  the  bones  of  the,  184. 

Mouth,  epidemic  sore,  256. 

Murrain,  the  nature,  symptoms,  and 
treatment  of,  252. 

Naoore  cattle,  an  account  of,  141. 
Navel-ill,  the  nature  and  treatment  of, 

422. 
Neck  of  cattle,  description  of,  201,  208, 

211,  212,  2.14,  215. 
Nerves  of  the  leg,  cuts  of,  176. 
Net  or  knot>  the  nature  and  treatment  of^ 

350. 


Odti 


INDEX. 


Neurotomy  might  be  practised  on  cattle, 

174. 
Neurot)my,  tbe  probable  advantage  of  it 

in  foul  in  the  foot,  437. 
Neurotomy,  description  of  the  operation, 

175. 
Neurotomy,  cuts  illustrative  of,  176. 
Nitre,  its  value  in  cattle  practice,  457. 
Nitrous  ether,  spirit  of  it,  when  uaeful, 

457. 
Norfolk,  the  native  cattle  o(,  74. 
Norfolk  polled  uattle,  their  origin,  74. 
Nose,  bleeding  from  tbe,  18^. 
Nose,  leeches  in  tbe,  182. 
Nose,  polypus  in  the,  182. 
Nose,  its  membrane,  inflammation  of,  182. 

O'Callagban,  Col.,  131. 
Oi^sophagean  canal,  cuts  of  it,  286,  283. 
CEsophagus,  the  structure  of,  278,  291. 
CEsophagus,  obstruction  in  the,  treatment 

of,  279. 
(Esophagus,  the  manner  of  opening  in 

choking,  231. 
CEsophagus,  rupture  of  tbe,  285 
CEsophagus,  stricture  of  the,  284. 
CEstrus  bovis,  the  history  of 'ils  several 

states,  443. 
Opened  joints,  the  treatment  of,  431. 
Ophthalmia,  its  nature  and    treatment, 

159. 
Opium,  the  best  anodyne,  antispasmodic 

and  astringent,  457. 
Ox,  zoological  description  of,  9. 
Ox,  Briiish,  early  history  of,  11. 

Pad  on  the  upper  jaw,  description  and  use 

of  the,  186. 
Palsy,  causes  and  treatment  of,  172. 
Pancreas,   the   structure,   functions,  and 

diseases  of,  323. 
Pantas,  the  nature  and  treatment  of,  336. 
Papillae    of   the    rumen,    description    of 

them,  and  of  their  uses,  295. 
Paps  in  the  mouth,  treatment  of,  206. 
Parotid    glands,    inflammation    of    the, 

symptoms  and  treatment  of,  205. 
Parturition. ^See  Calving. 
Paunch. — .See  Kumen. 
Pembrokeshire  cattle,  description  of,  37. 
Pericardium,  inflammation  of  the,  2S0. 
Pericardium,   the,   often  penetrated    by 

sharp  substances  that  have  been  taken 

into  the  rumen,  220. 
Pharyngites,  the  symptoms  and  treatment 

of,  258. 
Pharynx,  description  of  the,  207. 
Pharynx,  inflammation  of  the,  258. 
Pharynx,  the  mode  of  puncturing  it  in 

abscess  situated  there,  260. 
Phrenzy,  symptoms  and  treatment  of,  164. 
Phthisis. — See  Consum,'tion. 
Placenta,  the  .v-etention  of  it,  in  abortion, 

386. 
Placenta,  the,  should  be  discharged  soon 

after  oal7ir.g,  40(X 


Placenta,  method  of  separating  it  from 
the  womb,  400. 

Pleurisy,  its  symptoms  and  treatment,  271. 

Pleuropneumonia,  267,  270. 

Pneuraouia,  the  s\'mptoms  and  treatment 
of.  264. 

Pneumonia,  acute  and  epidemic,  267. 

Points  of  cattle,  a  description  of  the  prin- 
cipal, 16. 

Poisons,  a  list  of  the  various,  and  the 
mode  of  treating  them,  310. 

T>olled  cattle,  an  account  of  the,  63. 

Polled  and  horned  cattle,  a  comparison 
between  them,  152. 

Polypus  in  the  nose,  on,  182. 

Poultices,  when  useful,  4.53. 

Probang.  the  use  of,  in  hoove,  recom- 
mended, 306. 

Pregnancy,  the  usual  period  of,  382. 

Pregnancy,  symptoms  of,  387. 

Presentation,  natural,  the  management 
of,  389 

Presentation,  unnatural,  do.,  391. 

Puncturing  the  rumen  in  hoove,  objec- 
tions to,  305. 

Puerperal  Fever. — See  Milk  Fever. 

Pulse,  cause  of  the,  223. 

Pulse,  importance  of  attention  to  the,  223. 

Purging  cattle,  the  occasional  difficulty 
of,  accounted  for,  296,  357. 

Purging  cattle,  the  method  of  proceeding 
when  this  occurs,  296,  357. 

Quarters,  importanceof  their  being  long 

and  full.  20. 
Quarter-evil,  its  nat-ure  and   treatment, 

225. 

Rabies,  the  causes  and  symptoms  of,  1/7. 

Rectum,  description  of  the.  330,  332. 

Rectum,  the  treatment  of  inversion  of, 
354. 

Red-water,  the  nature  and  causes  of,  367. 

Red  water  has  more  to  do  with  tbe  diges- 
tive organs  and  the  food  than  any  other 
cause,  3  )8. 

Red-water  is  most  frequent  in  low  marshy 
woody  countries,  36-8. 

Red-water,  acute,  the  nature  and  treat- 
ment of,  368 

Red- water,  the  importance  of  bleeding 
and  purging  in,  369. 

Red-water,  chronic,  the  nature  and  treat- 
ment of  370. 

Reticulum,  the  interior  construction  of  it. 
237,  2-9,  292. 

Reticulum,  the  action  of  it  in  tbe  return 
of  the  food  to  tbe  stomach,  2<7,  275. 

Reticulum,  the  diseases  of  the,  312 

Rheumatism,  the  cause  and  treatment  of, 
423. 

R  ibs,  the  number  and  proper  form  of,  236. 

Ribbed  home,  the  importance  of  being, 
76. 
I  Rings,  the,  on  the  horn,  as  indioatins  th« 
'     age,  150.  ' 


INDEX. 


467 


Rings,  the,  on  the  horn,  as  indicating  the 

age,  uncertainty  of,  150. 
Rottenness  —See  Dysentery. 
Rumen,  the,  viewed  externally,  235,  236. 
Rumen,  the,  viewed  internally,  2ii,  29!). 
Rumen,  gcnenil  description  of  it,  238,  291. 
Rumen,  descriptioa.  of  its  papilla},  and 

tbeir  uses,  291. 
Rumen,  the   fluid  swallowed  sometimes 

eaters  it,  23S,  357. 
Rumen,  this  accounts  for  the  occasional 

ditHculty  of  purging  cattle,  29(j,  3-57. 
Rumen,  an  account  of  the  diseases  of  it, 

299. 
Rumen,  the  strange  substances  often  found 

in  it,  299. 
Rumen,  calculi  in  the,  symptoms  of,  299. 
Rumen,  calculi  in,  the  pffect  of,  300- 
Rumen,   distensions   ol    it   by   food,  the 

symptoms  and  treatment  of,  301. 
Rumen,  distension  of  it  by  gas,  303. 
Rumen,  inflammation  of  the,  310. 
Rumination,  description  of  it,  2.98. 
Rupture  of  the  parietes  of  the  abdomen. 

— See  Hernia. 
Rupture  of  the  bladder,  symptoms  of,  330, 
Ruptnre  of  the  oesophagus,  treatment  of, 

285. 
Rupture  of  the  womb,  treatment  of,  379. 
Rye,  ergot  of,  its  use  in  parturition,  458. 

Salivary  glanris,  description  of  the.  201. 
Salt,  its  use  in  food  as  a  medicine,  458. 
Sapped.— See  Constipation 
Saphena   vein,    the,  when   it   should  be 

opened,  218  I 

Septum,  the  nasal,  why  not  perfect  in  the 

ox,  180. 
Setons,  their  occasional  use,  458. 
Shetland  Islands,  general  description  of 

them,  51. 
Shetland  Islands,  description  of  the  cattle 

there,  51. 
Shetland  Islands,  treatment  of  the  cattle, 

52. 
Shoot  of  blood,  its  nature  and  treatment, 

225.  :_ 

Shooting. — See  Dysentery. 
Short-horns,  the,  history  of,  95. 
Short-horns,  supposed  to  be  originally  im- 
ported from  the  Continent,  96. 
Short-horns,  description  of  the  old  ones, 

95. 
Short-horns,  the  commencement  of  their 

improvement,  96. 
Short-horns,  the  mode  in  which  their  im- 
provement was  effected,  96. 
Short-horns,  their  excellence  consists  in  a 

combination  of  qualities  before  believed 

to  be  incompatible,  95. 
Short-horns,  the  question  of  their  capacity 

for  work,  103. 
Short-horns,  their  early  maturity  should 

preclude  their  being  put  to  work,  108. 
Short-horned    bulls,    the    advantage    of 

eroMing  different  bre»d8  with  them,  108. 


Short-horns,  the  prevailins  colors  of,  109. 
Short-horned  cow,  her  milking  qualities, 

133. 
Short-sighted,  many  cattle  appear  to  be, 

159. 
Shoulders,  a  slanting  direction  of  them, 

the  importance  of,  19. 
Shropshire  cattle,  the  old,  94. 
Shro,ishire  cattle,  the  cross  between  them 

and  the  Holderness,  94. 
Silver,  nitrate  of,  its  use  as  a  caustic,  459. 
Skeleton  of  the  ox,  cut  of  the,  143. 
Skin,  the  cause  and  importance  of  ils  soft 

mellow  feeling,  43S. 
Skin,  diseases  of  the,  438. 
Skull,  cavity  of  the,  cut  of,  144. 
Skull,  fracture  of  the,  treatment  of,  162. 
Skull,  fracture  of,  almost  invariably  fatal, 

162. 
Slinking. — See  Abortion. 
Smelling,  on  the  sense  of,  180. 
Soft  palate,  description  of  the,  337^^ 
Sore  teats,  treatment  of,  408. 
Sore  throat,  the  symptoms  and  treatment 

of,  258 
Spinal  cord,  the  comparative  smallness  of, 

accounted  for,  154 
Spine,  241. 
Spleen,   structure   and  function  of    the, 

319. 
Spleen,  haemorrhage  from  the,  319. 
Sprain  in  the  leg  and  foot,  symptoms  and 

treatment  of,  432. 
Stephenson,  Mr.,  114. 
Sternum,  description  of  the,  237. 
Sternum,   the  width  of  ihe,   sometimes 
compensates  for  flatness  of  the  sides, 
241. 
Stimulants,  the  propriety  of  admistering, 
when  it  is  difficult  to  purge  cattle,  297. 
Stomachs  of  cattle,  cuts  of  them,  285,  286, 

2S8,  291. 
Stomach  pump,  the  use  of  it  in  hoove  re- 
commended, .3()6. 
.Stone  in  the  bladder,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  378. 
Stone  in  the  kidneys,  ditto  and  ditto,  377. 
Stone  in  the  ureters,  ditto  and  ditto,  377. 
Stone  in  the  urethra,  ditto,  379. 
Strangulation  of  the  intestines,  symptoms 

and  treatment  of,  3-50. 
StranguUion,  de-cription  of  it,  205. 
Strictui  e  of  the  CESophagus,  treatment  of, 

2?4. 
Subcutaneous  abdominal  vein,  the  ques- 
tion when  it  should  be  bled  from,  219. 
Subcutaneous  abdominal   vein,  the  ana- 
tomy of  it,  219. 
1  Sublingual  glands,  description  of  the,  207. 
Submaxillary  vein,  de.scription  of  ihe,  204. 
I  Submaxillary  artery,  ditto,  205. 
Suffolk  cattle,  were  originally  duns,  75. 
Suffolk  cattle,  description  of  the,  75. 
Suffolk  cattle,  milking  properties  of,  75. 
Suffolk  cattle,  the  bull  cast  off  far  to« 
early.  75. 


468 


INDEX. 


Sulphur,  an  excellent  purgative  and  alter- 
ative, 459. 

Sussex  oxen,  description  of  the,  33. 

Sussex  o.'cen,  resemblance  and  difference 
between  them  and  the  Devons,  33,  34. 

Sussex  oxen,  ditto,  Herefords,  33,  34. 

Sussex  cow,  description  of  her,  34. 


>ussex  cow, 


not  good  for  the  dairy,  35. 


Sweetbread,  description  of  the,  244, 
Swelling   of  the  joints,   the  causes  and 
treatment  of,  42& 

Tail,  description  of  the  bones  of  the,  143. 
Tail,  shouldbe  level  with  the  bones  of  the 

back,  20. 
Tankerville,  Lord,  account  of  the   wild 

cattle  in  his  park,  12. 
Tape-worm,  an  account  of  the,  358. 
Tapping  in  dropsy,  a  description  of  the 

operation,  360. 
Tar,  its  use  in  cattle  practice,  459. 
Taunton,  the  vale  of,  description  of  the 

cattle  in,  26. 
Tavistock,    the    South    Devons    purest 

about,  24. 
Teeth,  the  form  and  structure  of  them,  in 

ruminants,  187. 
Teeth,  regarded  as  indicating  the  age, 

183. 
Teeth,  cuts  of  them,  at  different  ages,  188, 

189,  &c. 
Teeth,  curious  process  of  diminution  of, 

commencing  at  three  months,  190. 
Teeth,  when  the  mouth  can  be  said  to  be 

full  of,  192. 
Teeth,  the  grinders,  the  age  imperfectly 

estimated  by,  194. 
Tempest,  Sir  H.  Vane,  first  introduced  the 

short-horns  into  Ireland,  80. 
Temporal  artery,  description  of  the,  205. 
Temporal  bone,  description  of  the,  143, 

153,  184. 
Temporal  vein,  description  of  the,  204. 
Tetanus,  symptoms  and  treatment  of,  167, 
Thighs,  they  should  be  full,  long,  and 

close  together  when  viewed  from  be- 
hind, 17. 
Thigh-bone,  description  of  the,  143, 
Thrush    in    the    mouth,   symptoms    and 

treatment  of,  200. 
Thymus  gland,  description  of  the,  244. 
Tibia,  or  leg-bone,  description  of  the,  143. 
Tipperary,  description  of  the  cattle  in,  78. 
Tongue,  description  of  it   and   its  uses, 

193 
Tonics,  when  admissible  in  the  treatment 

of  distemper,  347,  459. 
Torsion,  the  method  of  castration  by,  427. 
Trachea,  description  of  the,  243. 
Tracheotomy,  description  of  the  operation 

of,  243. 
Tracheotomy,  cases  in  which  it  should  bo 

performed,  243. 
Trotter,  Col,,  120. 

Tumors,  bony,  about  the  eye,  manage- 
ment of,  156'. 


Tumors,  bony,  about  the  eye,  an  adran* 
tageous  way  of  firing,  156. 

Turpentine,  liquid,  its  uses  as  a  digestive 
and  a  diuretic,  460. 

Turpentine,  oil  of,  its  medicinal  use,  460, 

'lurpentine,  oil  of,  might  possibly  destroy 
the  worms  in  the  bronchial  tubes,  249. 

Typhus  fever,  nature  of  the,. 233. 

Typhus  fever  frequently  follows  inflam- 
matory fever,  233. 

Typhus  fever,  symptoms  of,  233. 

Typhus  fever,  treatment  of,  234. 

Typhus  fever,  the  kind  of  cattle  most  sub- 
ject to  it,  234. 

Typhus  fever,  prevention  of,  235. 

Twopenny,  Mr.  BakeweU's  bull,  account 
of,  86. 

Udder,  description  of  the,  132. 

Ulcers,  fetid,  use  of  chloride  of  lime  for, 
231. 

Upper  jaw-bone,  description  of  the,  143, 
180,  184. 

Ureters,  description  of  the,  375. 

Ureters,  stone  in  the,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  377. 

Urethra,  description  of  its  curve,  376. 

Urethra,  stone  in  the,  symptoms  and 
treatment  of,  379, 

Urinary  calculi,  symptoms  of  their  pres- 
ence, 376 

Urinary  calculi,  composition  of,  376. 

Urus,  account  of  the  ancient,  10. 

Vkins,  the  largeness  of,  in  the  ox,  com- 
pared with  the  arteries,  235. 

Veins,  description  of  the,  235. 

Veins,  varicose,  the  nature  and  treatment 
of,  236, 

Verdigris,  its  use  in  cattle  practice,  452. 

Vertebrae  of  the  spine,  description  of,  143 

Vinegar,  of  little  use  in  cattle  practice. 
460. 

Vitriol,  white,  the  use  of,  460. 

"Waistell,  Mr,,  once  owner  of  Hubback, 
93, 

Waistell,  Mr,,  account  of  his  fat  four- 
year-old  ox,  103, 

Waistell,  Mr.  Wm.,  of  Burdon,  119. 

Waller,  Mr.,  the  first  improver  of  Irish 
cattle,  SO. 

Warbles,  how  produced,  443. 

Warbles,  history  of  the  fly  and  its  several 
states,  443, 

Warts,  their  nature  and  treatment,  445. 

Water  in  the  head,  symptoms  and  treat- 
ment of,  163. 

Webster,  Mr.,  of  Canley,  an  improver  of 
the  long^horns,  83. 

Welby,  a  farrier,  stands  first  among  the 
improvers  of  the  long-horns,  83. 

West  Highland  cattle,  the  points  in  which 
they  are  valuable,  43. 

West  Highland  cattle,  the  secret  of  profit- 
ably breeding  and  grazing  them,  50. 


INDEX. 


4» 


Wild  cattle,  acc^'Ji*.  of,  l"?. 

Wind-pipe,  description  '»i'  t V,  243. 

Withers,  hollowness  behina  Ihcm,  disad- 
vantage of,  19. 

Womb,  inversion  of  the,  trcatnr«at  of, 
395. 

Womb,  rupture  of  the,  ditto,  397. 

Wood-evil,  a|ture  and  treatment  ■>.",  T^. 

Worms  in  tne  frontal  siuuses  of  c?-ttle, 
147. 

Worms  in  the  eye,  treatment  of,  162. 

Worms,  an  account  of  the  various  int<<!fV 
nal  ones,  357. 

Wounds    of   the    eye,   management    t 
156. 

Yellows,  the  (see  Jaundice,)  323. 
Yew,  the,  treatment    of    poisoning    hj 

310 
Yorkshire  cow,  the  history  of  the  establisf    t 

ment  of  the  present  one,  131.  ^ 

Yorkshire  cow,  description  cf  her,  131        > 


Yorkshire  cow,  average  quantity  <5f  milk 
yielded  by  her,  133. 

Yorkshire  cow,  the  question  of  the  aver- 
age quantity  of  butter,  133. 

Yorkshire,  North  Riding,  description  ot 
the  cattle,  135, 

Yorkshire,  North  Riding,  the  native  cat- 
tle of  were  long-horns,  135. 

Yorkshire,  North  Riding,  account  of  the 
first  Holderness  established  there,  135, 

Yorkshire,  North  Riding,  history  of  their 
improvement,  136. 

Yorkshire,  North  Riding,  general  man- 
agement of.  136. 

Yorkshire,  West  Riding,  136. 

Zinc,  the  preparations  of  it  which  are 

used  medicinally,  460. 
Zygomatic  arch,  the  peculiar  construction 

of  it  in  the  ox,  148. 
'^ygomaticus  muscle,  description  of  tb*, 


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subject,  drawn  from  authentic  sources  and  personal  observation.  Illustrated  with 
numerous  engravings. 

BROWNE'S  (D.  JAY)  FIELD  BOOK  OF  MANURES,    ....      1  26 

Or,  American  Muck  Book  ;  Treating  of  the  Nature,  Properties, 

Sources,  History  and  Operations  of  all  the  Principal  Fertilizers  and  Manures  in  Common 
Use,  with  specific  directions  for  their  Preservation  and  Application  to  the  Soil  and  t« 
Crops  ;  drawn  from  authentic  sources,  actual  experience  and  personal  observation,  aa 
combined  with  the  Leading  Principles  of  Practical  and  Scientific  Agriculture. 

BRIDGEMAN'S  (THOS.)  YOUNG  GARDENER^S  ASSISTANT,     -      -      1  60 

In  Three  Parts  ;  Containing  Catalogues  of  Garden  and  Flower 

Seed,  with  Practical  Directions  under  each  head  for  the  Cultivation  of  Cu  nary  Vege- 
tibles,  Flowers,  Fruit  Trees,  the  Grape  Vine,  &c.  ;  to  which  is  added  a  Calendar  to  each 
))art,  showing  the  work  necessary  to  be  done  in  the  various  departments  each  month 
of  the  ywir.     One  volume  octavo. 

■RIDGEMAN'S  KITCHEN  GARDENER'S  INSTRUCTOR,  }i  Cloth,      SO 

«  ••  "  "  noth,      60 

Mi-'^ed  post  jmid  uvon  receipt  of  price. 


Books  published  hy  C.  ^l.  Saxtox.  Barker  &  Uo. 

BKIDGEMAN'S  FLOHIST'S  GUIDE, ....  ^       ^  aoth,       60 

"  "  " Cioih,       60 

BXILGEMAN'S  FKTIIT  (njLTrVA.TOR'S  MAjN^UAL,  y»  Cloth,       50 

"  "  '  "  -       -  Cloth,       60 

BKECK'S  BOOK  OF  FLOWERS, 1  00 

I.v  wnicH  ARE  Described  all  the  Taicicus  Hardy  Herb4CE(.U8 

Perennials,  .Vunuals,  Shrubs,  Plants  and  Evercreen  Tre^s,  with  Directions  for  tuuir 
Cultivation. 

BinsrS  (KOBERT)  AMERICAN  FLOWER  GARDEN  DIRECTORY,       1  25 

CoxTAiNiNG  Practical  Directions  for  the  Culture  of  Plants, 

In  the  Flower  Garden,  Hothouse,  Greenhouse,  Rooms  or  Parlor  Windows,  for  every 
month  in  the  Year  ;  with  a  Description  of  the  Plants  most  desirable  in  each,  the  nature 
of  the  Soil  and  situation  best  adapted  to  their  Growth,  the  Proper  Season  for  Trans- 
planting, &c.  ;  with  Instructions  for  erecting  a  Hothouse,  Greenhonse,  and  Ikying  out 
a  Flower  Garden  ;  the  whole  adapted  to  either  Large  or  Small  Gardens,  with  Instruc- 
tions for  Preparing  the  Soil,  Propagati':^,  Planting,  Pruning,  Training  and  Fruiting  the 
Grape  Vine. 

BUIST'S  (ROBERT)  FAMILY  KLTCHKN  GARDENER,       ...  76 

Containing    Plain    and    Accurate    Descriptions   of    all  the 

Different  Si>ecies  and  Varieties  of  Culinary  Vegetables,  with  their  Botanical,  English, 
French  and  German  names,  alphabetically  arranged,  with  the  Best  Mode  of  Cultivat- 
ing them  in  the  Garden  or  under  Glass  ;  also  Descriptions  and  Character  of  the  must 
Select  Fruith,  their  Management,  Propagation,  &c.  By  Robert  Bl'ist,  author  of  tho 
"American  Fiower  Garden  Directory,"  &c. 

CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE  AND  SUGAR-MAKING,       ....  25 

Its  HisTORy,  Culture  and  Adaptation  to  the  Soil,  Climate 

and  Economy  of  the  United  Stat-js,  with  an  Account  of  Various  Processes  of  itanu 
facturuig  Sugar.  Drawn  from  authentic  sources,  by  Charlks  F.  Sta.vsbcry,  A.  M.,  late 
Commissioner  at  the  Exhibition  of  all  Nations  at  London. 

CHORLTON'S  GRAPE-GROWER'S  GUIDE, 60 

IxVtended    Especially    for    the  American  Climate.      Being   a 

Practical  Treatise  on  the  Cultivation  of  the  Grape  Vine  in  each  department  of  ^Hot- 
house, Cold  Grapery,  Retarding  House  and  Out-door  Culture.  With  Plans  for  the  con- 
struction of  the  Requisite  Buildings,  and  giving  the  best  methods  for  Heating  the  same. 
Every  department  beihg  fuUy  illustrated.     By  William  Chorltox. 

COBBETT'S  AMERICAN  GARDENER, 50 

A  Treatise  on  the  Situation,  Soil  and  Layino-out  of  Gardens, 

and  the  Making  and  ilanaging  of  Hotbeds  and  Greenhouses,  and  on  the  Propagation 
and  Cultivation  of  the  several  sorts  of  Vegetables,  Herbs,  Fruits  and  Flowers. 

COTTAGE  AND  FARM  BEE-KEEPER, 50 

A  Practical  Work,  by  a  Country  Curate. 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  FRUIT  BOOK, 60 

Containing  Directions  for  Raising,  Propagating  and  Manao- 

ing  Fruit  Trees,  Shrubs  and  Plants  ;  with  a  Description  of  the  Best  Varieties  of  Fruit, 
including  New  and  Valuable  Kinds.  ^ 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  VETERINARIAN 50 

Containing  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals,  their  Causes,  Symp- 

toms  and  Remedies  ;  with  Rules  for  Restorrug  and  Preserving  Health  by  good  manage- 
miA  :  also  for  Training  and  Breeding. 

DADD'S  AMERICAN  CATTLE  DOCTOR, 1  00 

Containing  the  Necessary   Information  for   Preserving  the 

Health  and  Curing  the  Diseases  of  Oxen,  Cows,  bhei-p  and  Swine,  with  a  (Jreat  Variety 
of  Original  Recipes  and  Valuable  Information  in  reference  to  Farm  an  i  Dairy  .Manage- 
ment, whereby  every  Man  can  be  his  own  Gittle  Doctor.  The  principles  taught  in  tliia 
work  are,  that  all  Medication  shall  be  subservient  to  Nature — that  all  Medicines  must  be 
ganative  in  their  operation,  and  administered  with  a  view  f>f  aiding  the  vital  powers, 
Instead  of  depressing,  as  heretofore,  with  the  lancet  or  by  poison.  By  G.  H.  Dadd,  M.  i) 
Veterinary  practitioner. 

MxiUd  por  paid  upon  receipt  of  price. 


(  Books  published  hy  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  Co. 

DADD'S  MODERN  HOKSE  DOCTOR, -      -      1  00 

A.v  Americvn  Bi>oK  for  American  Farmers;  Coutaining  Practi- 
cal Observations  on  the  Causes,  Nature  and  Treatment  ol'  Disease  and  Iximeness  of 
Horscs,  embracing  tlie  Most  Recent  and  Approved  Methods,  according  to  an  enlightened 
system  of  Veterinary  Practice,  for  the  Preservation  and  Restoration  of  Health.  With 
iflustralions. 

DADD'S  ANATOIIY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE  HOESE,  Piaia,    -      2  00 

«<  "  "  '*  ••  Colored  Plates,    4  00 

With  Anatomical  and  Questional  Illustr  vtions  ;  ConTaining, 

also,  a  Series  of  Examinations  on  Equine  Anatomy  and  Philosophy,  with  Instructions  in 
reference  to  Dissection  and  the  mode  of  making  Anatomical  Preparations  ;  to  which  ia 
added  a  Glossary  of  Veterinary  Technicalities,  Toxicological  Chart,  and  Dictionary  of 
Veterinary  Science. 

DANA'S  MTTCK  MANUAL,  FOR  THE  USE  OF  FARMERS,      -      -      1  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  Physical  .^xd  Chemical  Properties  of  Soils 

and  Chem-try  of  Manures  ;  including,  also,  the  subject  of  Composts,  Artificial  Manures 
and  Irrigation.     A  new  e.lition,  with  a  Chapter  on  Bones  and  Superphosphates. 

DANA'S  PRIZE  ESSAY  ON  MANURES, 26 

Submitted  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  for 

Promoting  Agriculture,  for  their  Premium.     By  Samuel  H.  Dana. 

DOMESTIC  AND  ORNAMENTAL  POULTRY,  Plain  Plates,    .      .      _      1  00 

"  '*  '*  Colored  Plates,  .        -       2  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  History  and  Management  of  Ornamental 

and  Domestic  I'oultry.  By  Rev.  Eomcxp  Sacx  Dixon,  A.  M.,with  large  additions  by 
J.  J.  Kkrr,  M.  D.  Illustrated  with  sixty-five  Original  Portraits,  engraved  expressly  for 
this  work.     Fourth  edition,  revised. 

DOWNING'S  (A.  J.)  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING, 3  50 

Revised,  Enlarged  and  Newly  Illustrated,  by  Henry  Win- 

throp  Sargent.  This  Great  Work,  which  has  accomplished  so  much  in  elevating  the 
American  Taste  for  Rural  Improvements,  is  now  rendered  doubly  interesting  and 
valuable  by  the  experience  of  all  the  Prominent  Cultivators  of  Ornamental  Trees  in  the 
United  States,  and  by  the  descriptions  of  American  Places,  Private  Residences,  Central 
Park,  New  York,  Llewellyn  Park,  New  Jersey,  and  a  full  account  of  the  Newer  Decidu- 
ous and  Evergreen  Treesand  Shrubs.  The  illustrations  of  this  edition  consist  of  seKcn 
superb  steel  plate  engravings,  by  Smii-ue,  Hi.vshelwood,  Duthib  and  others  ;  besides  one 
hundred  engravings  on  xuood  arid  stone,  of  the  best  American  Residences  and  Parks,  with 
Portraits  of  many  New  or  Remarkable  Trees  and  Shrubs. 

DOWICNG'S  (A.  J.)  RURAL  ESSAYS, 3  00 

On  Horticulture,  Landscape  Gardening,  Rural  Architecture, 

Trees,  Agriculture,  Fruit,  with  his  Ix-lters  from  England.  Edited,  with  a  Memoir  of  the 
Author,  by  Ge  )Rge  Wm.  Cirtisi,  and  a  Letter  to  his  Friends,  by  Frederika  Bremer,  and 
an  elegant  Steel  Portrait  of  the  Author. 

EASTWOOD  (B.)  ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CRANBERRY,  60 

With  a  Description  of  the  Best  Varieties.     By  B.  Eastwood, 

<'  Septimus,'"  of  the  New  York  Tribune.     Illustrated. 
ELLIOTT'S  WESTERN  FRUIT  BOOK, 1  25 

A  Xew  Edition  of  this  Work,  Thoroughly  Revlsed.  Em- 
bracing all  the  New  and  Valuable  Fruits,  with  the  Latest  Improvements  in  their  Cultiva 
tion,  up  to  January,  185.1.  especially  adapted  to  the  wants  of  Western  Fruit  Growers  . 
full  of  excellent  illustrations.  By  F.  R.  Eluott,  Pomologist,  lato  of  Cleveland.  Ohio,  now 
of  St.  Louis, 

EVERY  LADY  HER  OWN  FLOWER  GARDENER,     -      -      -      -  60 

Addressed  to  the  Indu.strious  and  Economical  dnly  ;  containing 

simple  and  pr:ict.r;il  Directions  for  Cultivating  Plants  and  Flowers  ;  also,  Hint.s  for  th« 
Management  of  Flowers  in  Rooms,  with  brief  Botanical  Descriptions  of  Plantt  and 
Flowers      The  whole  in  plain  and  simple  language.     By  Louisa  Johnson. 

Mailed  posl  vaid  upon  -eceipt  of  price. 


Books  published  by  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  Co. 

FASM  DRAINAGE, 1  00 

The   Principles,   Processes  and  Effects  of   Draining  Land, 

with  Stoucs,  Woo  1,  Drain-plows,  Open  Ditches,  and  especially  with  Til.^s  ;  including 
Tables  of  hUiiufall,  Evaporation,  Filtration,  Excavation,  capacity  of  Pipes,  cost  and  num- 
ber to  the  acre.  With  more  thaa  100  illustrations.  By  the  Hon.  Henry  F.  French,  of 
New  Hampshire. 

FESSENDEN'S  (T.  G.)  AMEEICAN  KITCHEN  GARDENER,     -      -         50 
Co.NTAiNiNG  Directions  for  the  Cultivation  of  Vegetables  ^nd 

Garden  Fruits.    Cloth. 
FESSENDEN'S  COMPLETE  FARMER  AND  AMERICAN  GARDENER,    1  25 

Rural  Economist  and  New  American  Gardener  ;    Containing 

a  Compendious  Epitome  of  the  most  Important  Branches  of  Agriculture  and  Rural 
Economy  ;  with  Practical  Directions  on  the  Cultivation  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables,  includ- 
ing Landscape  and  Ornamental  Gardening.     By  THOiUS  G.  Fessexden.     2  vols,  in  1. 

FIELD'S  PEAR  CTTLTURE, 1  00 

The    Pear    Garden  ;    or,  a    Treatise  on  the  Propagation  and 

,  Cultivation  of  the  Pear  Tree,  with  Instructions  for  its  Management  from  the  Reertlmg  to 
the  Bearing  Tree.    By  TuoiiAS  W.  Field. 

FISH  CTTLTURE, 100 

A  Treatise  on  the  Artificial  Propagation  of  Fish,  and  the 

Construction  of  Ponds,  with  the  Description  and  Habits  of  such  kinds  of  Fish  as  are  most 
suitable  for  Pisciculture.  By  T'eeodatcs  Garuck,  M.  D.,  Vice-Presideni  of  the  Cleveland 
Academv  of  Nat.  Science. 

FLINT  ON  GRASSES, -      -      -      -      1  25 

A  Practical  Treatise  on  Grasses  and  Forage  Plants  ;  Com- 
prising their  Natural  History,  Comparative  Nutritive  Value,  Methods  of  Cultivation,  Cut- 
ting, Curing  and  the  Management  of  Grass  Lands.  By  Charles  L.  Fllvt,  A.  M..  Secre- 
tary  of  the  Mass.  Stale  Board  of  Agriculture. 

GXJENON  ON  MILCH  COWS,     - 60 

A  Treatise  on  Milch  Cows,  whereby  the  Quality  and  Quantity  of 

Milk  which  any  Cow  will  give  may  be  accurately  determined  by  observing  Natural 
Marks  or  External  Indications  alone";  the  length  of  time  she  will  continue  to  give  Milk, 
kckc.  By  M.  Fra.nct-!  Gtexox,  of  Liboarne,  France.  Translated  by  Nichol.a.s  P. 
Trist.  Esq.  ;"  with  Introduction,  Remarks  and  Observations  on  the  Cow  and  the  Dairy, 
by  JoH.v  S.  Skj.x.ver.  Illustrated  with  numerous  Engravings.  Neatly  done  up  in  paper 
covers,  37  cts. 

KERBERT'S  HINTS  TO  HORSE-KEEPERS, 1  25 

Complete  Manual  for  Horsemen  ;  Embracing-: 

How  TO  Breed  a  Hor^e.  How  to  Phy.sic  a  Horse. 

How  TO  Buy  a  Horse.  (.-.llopathy  and  Hom(eopatht 

How  TO  Break  a  Horse.  How  to  Groom  a  Hor^e. 

How   TO    UhTi   A    H:)R.«E.  HOW   TO    DRIVE   A    HORSE. 

How  to  1'"eed  a  Horse.  How  to  Riok  a  Hor.se. 

And  Chapters  on  Mules  ami  Ponies.  By  the  late  He.vrv  Wiluam  Herbert  (Fraxk 
Forrkster)  ;  with  aiklitions,  including  Rarey's  Method  of  Horse  Taming,  and  Baucher's 
SvsTiiM  OF  HoR-EMANsmp  ;  also,  giving  directions  for  the  Selection  and  Carp  of  Carriages 
and  Harness  of  every  description,  from  the  City  "  Turn  Out"  to  the  Farmer's  ''  Gear," 
air!   a  Bio,M-aphy  of  the  eccentric  Author.     Illustrated  throughout. 

HOOPER'S  DOG  AND  GUN, 50 

A  Few    Loose  Chapters    on  Shooting,   among   which   will   be 

foun  1  som  ■  Anecdotes  and  Inci  lent.=  ;  also  Instructions  for  Dog  Breaking,  and  interest 
ing  letters  Iroin  Sportsmen.     By  A  E-\n  Shot. 

HYDE'S  CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE, 28 

Containing  its    History,  Mode  of  Cih^ture,  Manufacture   q» 

the  Sugar,  &c.  ;  with  Reports  of  its  success  in  dilferent  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Mailed  post  paid  upon  receipt  of  p)ire. 


6  Books  published  hy  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  C 


125 

Lectur'-'s   on  the  Application  of  Chemistry  and  Geology  to 

Ag'Mculture.  New  Editiou,  with  au  Appendix,  contaiuiiig  the  Author's  Experimeuts  in 
Practical  Agriculluro. 

JOHNSTON'S  (J  F.  W.)  ELEMENTS  OF  AGEICTTLTTJEAL  CHEM- 

ISTEY  AND  GEOLOGY, 1  00 

With  a  Complete  Analytical  and  Alphabetical  Index,  and  an 

Americau  I'rel'uce.     By  Hon.  Siiio.\  Bkowx,  Editor  of  the  "  Xevv  Eiigluud  Fanner." 

OHNSTON'S  (J.  F.  W )  CATECHISM  OF  AGEICULTTJEAL  CHEM- 

ISTEY  AND  GEOLOGY, 25 

By    James    F.  W.  Johnston,  Honorary    Member  of  the  Royal 

Agricultural  Socifty  of  England,  and  author  of  "Lectures  on  Agricultural  Chemistry 
and  Geology."  With  an  Introduction  hy  Joh.v  PrrKiN  Norto.v,  M.  A.,  lute  Professor  ov' 
Scieutiflc  Agriculture  in  Yale  College.  With  Notes  and  Additions  by  the  Author,  pre- 
pared expressly  for  this  edition,  and  an  Appendix  compiled  by  the  Superintendent  of 
Education  in  Nova  Scotia.     Adapted  to  the  use  of  Schools. 

LANGSTEOTH  (REV.  L.  L.)  ON  THE  HIVE  AND  HONEY  BEE,  -   1  2^ 

A  Practical  Tre.a.tise  on  the   Hive   and    Honey  Bee,  Third 

C'lition,  enlarge^!  and  ilhislral>id  wilh  nuiwrnwi  tngranvgx.  Tliis  Work  is,  without  a 
doubt,  the  best  work  on  the  Bee  published  in  any  langua^^e,  whether  we  consider  its 
scientific  accuracy,  the  practical  instructions  it  contains,  or  the  beauty  and  completeness 
of  its  diuslrations. 

LETTCHAES'  HOW  TO  BUILD  AND  VENTILATE  HOTHOUSES,     -      1  25 

A    Practical    Treatise    on    the    Construction,  Heating   and 

Ventilation  of  Huthousos,  including  Conservatories,  Greenhouses.  Graperies  and  other 
kinds  of  Horticultural  Structures  ;  with  Practical  Directions  for  their  Management,  in 
regard  to  Light,  Heat  and  Air.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engravings.  By  P.  B. 
LKcrn.NRs,  Garden  Architect. 

LIEBIG'S  (JUSTUS)  FAMTLIAE  LECTUEES  ON  CHEMISTEY,        -         60 

And  its  relation  to  Commerce,  Physiology,  and  Agriculture. 

Edited  by  Joh.v  G.^rde.ver,  M.  D., 
LINSLEY'S  MOEGAN  HOESES, 1  00 

A  Premium  Essay  on  the  Origin,  History,  and  Characteristics 

of  this  remarkable  American  Breed  of  Horses  ;  tracing  the  Pedigree  from  the  original 
Justin  Morgan,  through  the  most  noted  of  his  progeny,  down  to  the  present  time. 
With  numerous  portraits.  To  which  are  added  Hints  for  Breeding,  Breaking  and  Gene- 
ral Use  and  Management  of  Horses,  with  practical  Directions  for  Training  them  for 
Exhibition  at  Agricultural  Fairs.  By  D.  C.  Linsley,  Editor  of  the  American  Stock 
Journal. 

MOOEE'S  EUEAL  HAND  BOOKS, 1  25 

First  Series,  containing  Treatises  on — 

Tire  HoR-sE,  Thk  Pe.sts  of  the  Farm, 

TnK  Hog,  I)omt->!tic  Fowls,  and 

The  Ho.vbt  Bee,  The  Cow. 

Second  Series,  containing —  .        .        _        .  1  25 

KviRY  Lady  h™  own  Flower  Garjjexer,    E.ssat  on  MAxrRES, 

^A.\  METfy   OF   AUKICLLTURE,  AMERICAN   KiTtTlEN   GaRPENER, 

BiKD  FA.vaER,  American  Rose  Ccijukjst. 

Third  Series,  containing — 1  25 

JliLKs  on  the  Hok.=:e"s  Foot,  Vine-Dres.'jkr's  Ma.vual, 

The  Rabiut  Fanciek,  Bke-Keevkr's  Chart, 

Weeks  on  Bees,  CiiEsii.srRY  Made  Easy. 

Fourth  Series,  containing-—       -  -         -         .  1  26 

Pv«if;;)z  ox  thk  Vine,  HooreR's  r>oG  and  Gun, 

LiKSJO's  Famiuak  Letters,  SKir.i.Fii.  Hocsewifk, 

Browne's  Memoirs  of  Lvdun  Corn. 


Mailed  post  paid  upon  receipt  of  pn 


Boohs  published  hy  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  Co. 


mUEE'S  BEE^KEEPES'S  MANUAL,       -      -      -      -  -      -      1  00 

Being   a   Practical  Treatise   on   the   History  and  Domestic 

Econoiii3'  III"  the  Honey  Bee,  embracing  a  Full  Illiislratiou  ol  the  \vhoi>!  subji'ct,  with 
the  Most  Approvetl  Methods  of  Managing  this  Insect,  through  every  branch  of  its 
Culture  ;  the  result  of  many  years'  experience.  Illustrated  with  many  engravings 
By  T.  B.  Miner. 

MILES  ON  THE  HOESE'S  FOOT  AND  HOW  TO  KEEP  IT  SOUND,         60 

With  Cots,  Illustrating  the  Anatomy  of  the  Foot,  and  contain- 
ing valuable  Hints  on  Shoeing  and  Stable  Management,  in  Health  and  in  Disease.     By 

WSI.  JIlLES. 

MILBUaN  ON  THE  COW  AND  DAIRY  HUSBANDEY,    -      -      -         25 
By  M.  M.  MiLBURN,  and  revised  by  H.  D.  Richardson  and  Ambrose 

STEMi-VS.     With  illustrations. 

KUNirS  (B.)  PRACTICAL  LAND  DEAINEE, 50 

Being  a  Tre.\tise  on  Draining  Land,  in  which  the  Most  Ap- 
proved Systems  of  Drainage  are  Explained,  and  their  Differences  and  Comparative 
Merits  Discussetl  ;  with  full  Directions  for  the  Cuttmg  and  Making  of  Drains,  with 
Remarks  upon  the  various  materials  of  which  they  may  be  constructed.  With  many 
illustrations.     By  B.  Ml-.\.n,  Liui'lscape  Gardener. 

KASH'S  (J.  A.)  PROGEESSIVE  FAEMER, 60 

A  Scientific  Treatise  on  Agricultural  Chemistry,  the  Gb- 

ology  of  Agriculture,  on  Plants  and  Animals,  Manures  and  S<jils,  applied  to  Practical 
Agriculture  ;  with  a  Catechism  of  Scientific  and  Practical  Agriculture.     By  J.  A.  Nash. 

NEILL'S  PRACTICAL  FRUIT,  FLOWEE  AND  KITCHEN  GAEDEN- 

EE'S  COMPANION, 1  00 

With  a  Calendar.     By  Patrick  Neill,  Secretary  of  the  Royal 

Caledonian  Horticultural  Society.'  Ailapted  to  the  United  Stat(?s  from  the  fourth 
edition,  revised  and  irai)roved  by  the  Author.  Edited  by  G.  Emkr-sox,  M.  D.,  E<Jitor  of 
'  The  American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia."  With  Xot<>s  ami  Additions  by  R.  G.  Pxrdeb, 
author  of  '•  Manual  of  the  Strawberry  Culture."     With  illustrations. 

NOETON'S  (JOHN  P.)  ELEMENTS  OF  SCIENTIFIC  AGEICULTUEE,        60 

Or,  the  Connection  between  Science  and  the  Art  of  Practical 

Farmmg.  Prize  F-«sav  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  .Society.  By  Jon.\  P.  NoR- 
To.v,  M.  A.,  Professor  of  ScieutiOc  Agriculture  in  Yale  College.  Adapted  to  the  use  of 
Schools. 

OLCOTT'S  SOEGHO  AND  IMPHEE,  THE  CHINESE  AND  AFEICAN 

SUGAR  CANES, 1  00 

A  Complete  Treatise  upon  their  Origin  and  Varieties,  Cu;,ture 

and  Uses,  their  value  as  a  Forage  Crop,  and  IMrections  for  making  Sugar,  Molasses, 
Alcohol,  Sparkling  and  Still  Wines,  Beer,  Cider,  Vinegar,  Paper,  Starch  and  Dye-iitHfls. 
FuUv  illustrated  with  Drawings  of  Approved  Machinery  ;  with  an  Appendix  hy  Leo.vard 
Wray,  of  Ciiffraria,  and  a  Description  of  his  Patented  Process  of  Crystallizing  the  Juico 
of  the  Imphee  ;  with  the  Latest  American  Experiments.     By  Henry  S.  Olcott. 

PARDEE  (R.  G.)  ON  STRAWBERRY  CULTURE, 60 

A  Complete  Manual  for  the  Cultivation  of  the  Strawberry  ; 

with  a  Description  of  the  Best  V^arieties. 

Also  notices  of  the  Raspberry,  Blackberry,  Currant,  Gooseberry  and  Grape;  with 
Directions  for  their  Cultivation,  and  the  Selection  of  the  Best  Varieties.  "  Every  process 
here  recommended  has  been  proved,  the  plans  of  others  tried,  and  the  result  is  here 
given."  With  a  Valuable  Appendix,  containing  the  observations  and  experience  of  some 
of  the  most  successful  cultivators  of  these  fruits  in  our  country. 

PEDDERS'  (JAMES)  FARMERS'  LAND  MEASURER,  -      -      -      -         5C 
Or  Pocket  Companion  ;    Showiiiq^  at  one  view  the  Contents  of 

any  Piece  of  'iiud.  U  )m  Dimensions  taken  i.-i  Yards.  With  a  Set  of  Useful  AgriculturaJ 
Tab'^« 

MnUed  post  paid  upon,  receipt  of  price. 


8  Books  published  by  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  Co. 

FEESOZ'  CTTLTTmE  OF  THE  VINE, 25 

A  New  Process  for  the  Culture  of  the  Yixe,  by  Persoz,  Pro- 
fessor of  tile  Facilty  of  Soi  races  of  .StiLisboiirg  ;  Directing  Professor  of  Ibe  School  of  l^liar- 
mucy  of  the  same  city.     Trauslatod  by  J.  O'C.  Barclay,  Surgeon  U.  S.  X. 

PHELPS'  BEE  KEEPEE'S  CHAfiT, 25 

Being  a  Brief  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Instinct,  Habits  and 

Management  of  the  HotK^y  Bee,  in  all  its  various  branches,  the  result  of  many  years' 
practical  experience,  whereby  the  author  has  been  enabled  to  divest  the  subject  of 
much  that  hiis  been  considered  mysterious  and  difBcul*.  to  overcome,  and  render  it 
more  sure,  protiuble  and  interesting  to  every  one,  than  it  has  heretofore  been.     By  E. 

QUINBY'S  MTSTEEIES  OF  BEE-KEEPING  EXPLAINED,        -      -      1  00 

Bhixg  a  Complete  Analysis  of  the  Whole  Subject,  Consisting 

of  the  Natural  History  of  IJisos  ;  Dinctiuris  for  obtaining  the  Greatest  Amount  of  Pure 
Surplus  Honey  with  "the  least  possible  expense";  Remedies  for  Losses  Given,  and  tbo 
Science  of  Luck  fully  illustrated  ;  the  result  of  mure  than  twenty  years'  experience  in 
extensive  Apiaries.     By  M.Quixby. 

RANDALL'S  (H.  S.)  SliXEP  HXTSBANDRY, 1  25 

With  an  Account  of  the  Different  Breeds,  and  general  direc- 
tions in  regard  to  Summer  and  Wint'-r  Mainigfmont,  Breeding  and  the  Treatment  of 
Diseases,  with  Portraits  and  other  engravings.     By  He.xky  S.  IiAM)AU,. 

REEMELIN'S  (CHAS.)  VINE  DRESSER'S  MANUAL,         ...  50 

An    Illustr.a.ted    Treatlse  on  Vineyards  and   Wine-Making, 

containing  full  Instructions  as  to  Location  and  Soil,  Preparation  of  Ground,  Selection  and 
Propagation  of  Vines,  the  Treatment  of  Young  Vineyards,  Trimming  and  Training  the 
Vines,  Manures  and  the  Making  of  Wine. 

RICHARDSON  ON  HOGS, 25 

Their  Origin,  Varieties  and  Management,  with  a  View  to  Profit 

and  Treatment  under  I)isea.se  ;  also,  jiiain  Directions  relative  to  the  Most  Approved 
Modes  of  Preserving  th'-ir  Flesh.  By  H.  D.  Ricuardso.v,  author  of  "  llie  Hive  and  the 
Honey  Bee,"  kc,  kc.     With  illustrations. 

RICHARDSON  ON  THE  HIVE  AND  THE  HONEY  BEE,  -       -      -  25 

With  Plain  Directions  for  Obtaining  a  Considerable  Annual 

Income  from  this  branch  of  Rural  Economy  ;  also,  an  Account  of  the  Diseases  of  Bees 
and  their  Remedies,  and  Remarks  as  to  their  Enemies,  and  the  best  mode  of  protecting 
the  Hives  from  then-  attacks.     By  H.  D.  Richardson.     With  illustrations. 

RICHARDSON  ON  DOMESTIC  FOWLS, 25 

Their    Natural    History,    Breeding,  Rearing,  and  Generai 

Management.    By  H.  I).  Kiciiardso.v.     With  illustrations. 

RICHARDSON  ON  THE  HORSE, 25 

Their  Origin  and  Varieties  ;  with  Plain  Directions  as  to  tdk 

Breeding,  Rearing  and  General  Management,  with  Instructions  as  to  the  Treatment  of 
Disease.    Handsomely  illustrated.     By  H.  D.  Ri-'hardson. 

RICHARDSON  ON  THE  PESTS  OF  THE  FARM,        -       -      -      -  25 

With    Instructions  for  their  Extirpation  ;  being  a  Manual  of 

Plain  Directions  for  the  Certain  Destruction  of  every  description  of  Vermin.  With 
numerous  illustrations  on  Wood. 

RICHARDSON  ON  DOGS ;  THK.ik.  ORIGIN  AND  VAKCETIES,       -         60 

Directions  as  to  their  General  Management.     With  numerous 

Original  Anecdotes.    Also,  Complete  Instructions  as  to  Treatment  under  Disease.     By  H. 
I).  RiciiARDSox.     Illustrated  with  numerous  wood  engravings. 
This  is  not  only  a  cheap,  but  one  of  the  best  works  ever  published  on  the  Dog. 

SCHENCK'S  GARDENER'S  TEXT  BOOK, 50 

Containing  Directions   for  the  Formation    and   Management 

of  tl'«  Kitchen  Garden,  tlKi  Culture  and  Use  of  Vegetables,  Fruits  and  MediclJial  H-irb» 
Mailed  pod  paid  upon  receipt  of  price. 


Books  ryuhlished  by  C.  M.  Saxto.v,  Barker  <fe  Co.  ^ 

SHEPHERD'S  OWN  BOOK,  .       -      -      - 2  cO 

WiiH  AN  Account  of  the  Different  Breeds,  Diseases  and  M>  <f- 

agemcQl  of  Sheep,  and  (ioneral  Directions  ia  ro^'anl  to  Summer  and  Wmter  Mauagemt-  ct, 
Breeding  and  the  Treatment  of  Diseases  ;  with  illustrative  engravings  by  YocaT;  & 
Randall  ;  embracing  Skinner's  Notes  on  the  Breed  and  Management  of  Sheep  in  >ue 
United  States,  and  on  the  Culture  of  Fine  Wool. 

STEWAET'S  STABLE  BOOK, 1  00 

A  Treatise  on  the  Management  of   Horses,  in  Relation  to 

Stabling,  Grooming,  Feeding,  Watering  and  Working,  Construction  of  Stables,  V^entila- 
tloa,  Appendages  of  Stables,  Management  of  the  Feet,  and  of  Diseased  and  Defective 
Horses.  By  John  Stewart,  Veterinary  Surgeon.  With  Notes  aad  Additions,  adapting 
it  to  Americf^n  Food  and  Climate.     By  A.  B.  Allen,  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

STSAY  LEAVES  FROM  THE  BOOK  OF  NATUKE,     -      -      -      -      1  00 

By   M.  Schele    De   Vere,    of   the   University  of  Yirginia. 

Contexts  :  I.  O.xly  a  Pebble. 

n.    Xatcre  IX  MOTIOX. 
m.  The  Oce.\x  axd  rrs  Lifb. 
~  rv.  A  Ca.\T  ABoirr  Plaxts. 

V.  Yolxger  Years  of  a  Plast. 
VI.  Later  Years  of  a  Plant. 

Vn.    PL.4XT   Mt-MMIES. 
VIII.    U.VKXOWX   TOXGCES. 

IX.  A  Trip  to  the  Moon. 

STEPHENS'  (HENRY)  BOOK  OF  THE  FAilM, 4  00 

A  Complete  Guide  to  the  Farmer,  Steward,  Plowman,  Cattle- 

man, Shepherd,  Field  Worker  asd  Dairy  Maid.  By  Hexry  STEPm=;xs.  With  Four  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty  illustrations  ;  to  which  are  added  Ltplauatory  Notes,  Remarks,  &c.,  by 
J.  S.  Sia.\XER.     Really  one  of  the  best  books  a  farmer  can  possess. 

SKILLFUL  HOUSEWIFE, 50 

Or  Complete  Guide  to  Domestic  Cookery,  Tastf^  Comfort,  and 

Economy,  embracing  ^5'.^  Recipes  pertaining  to  Household  Duties,  Itie  Care  of  Health, 
Gardeufiig,  Birds,  Education  ofClr.i  Iren,  ^:c.,  &c.     By  Mrs.  L.  G.  Abell. 

SKINNEE'S  ELEMENTS  OF  AGRKHTLTURE, 25 

Adapted  to  the  Use  of  American  Farmers.     By  F.  G.  Skinner* 

SMITH'S   (C.   H.   J.)   LANDSCAPE    GAUDENING,   PABKS    AND 

PLEASURE  GROUNDS, 1  25 

With  Practical  Xotes  on  Country  Residences,  Villas,  Public 

Parks  and  Gardens.  By  Ca.\RLE.s  H.  J.  Sjiith,  l.andscape  Gardener  and  Garden  Archi 
tect.     With  Notes  and  Additions  by  Lewis  F.  Allex,  author  of"  Rural  Architecture." 

THAER'S  (ALBERT  D.)  AGRICULTURE, 2  00 

The  Principles  of  Agriculture,  by  Albert  D.  Thaer  ;  Trans- 
ited by  WiLUAM  Shaw  and  Cuthbert  W.  Johxsox,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S.  W'th  a  Memoir  of 
the  Author.     1  vol.  8vo. 

Tliis  work  i.=?  regarded,  by  those  who  are  competent  to  judge,  as  one  of  the  most 
valuable  works  that  has  ever  appeared  on  the  subject  of  Agriculture.  At  the  same  time 
that  it  is  eminently  practical,  it  is  philosophical,  and,  even  to  the  general  reader,  re- 
markably entertaining. 

f  NOMAS'  (3.  J.)  FARM  IMPLEMENTS, 1  00 

And  the  Principles  of  their  Construction  and  Use  ;   an  Ele 

!!i -i.tuy  and  familiar  Treatise  on  ifechauics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  as  apphed  to  the 
oiJiuary  practices  of  Agriculture.     With  200  illu.strations. 

THOMPSON  (R.  D.)  ON  THE  FOOD  OF  ANIMALS,     -      -      -  75 

Experimental  Researches  on  the  Food  of  Animals  and  thb 

Fattening  of  Cattle  ;  with  Remarks  on  the  Food  of  Man.  Based  upon  Experiments  under* 
taken  by  order  of  the  Britifh  Government,  by  Robert  Duxdas  Thompson.  M.  D. 
Lecturer  on  Practical  Chemistry,  University  of  Glasgow. 

Mailed  post  paid  upon  receipt  qf  priet. 


10  Books  published  hy  C.  M.  Saxton,  Barker  &  Co. 


THE  BOSE  CTJLTTJKiST, 60 

Being  a  Practical  Treatise  on  the  Propagation,  Cultivation. 

and  M-mii.^'fin.-^iJl  of  tlie  Rose  in  all  seasous  ;  w.ih  a  List  of  Choice  and  Appruven  Van**- 
tics,  adapted  lo  llic  Climate  ol  the  United  Slates  ;  to  which  is  added  full  direclions  for 
the  Trealmeut  of  the  Daulia.     Illustrated  by  engravings. 

TOPHAM'S  CHEMISTRY  MADE  EASY, 25 

For  the  Use  of  i  armers.     By  J.  Topham. 

TUENEE'S  COTTON  PLANTEE'S  MANUAL, 100 

Being  a  Compilation  of  Facts  from  the  Best  Authorities  on 

the  Culture  of  Cotton,  its  Natural  History,  Chemical  Analysis,  Trade  and  Consumption, 
and  embracing  a  History  of  Cotton  and  the  Cotton  Gin.     By  J.  A.  Turner. 

WARDER'S  (J.  A.)  HEDGES  AND  EVERGREENS,      -      -      -      -      1  00 
A  Complete  Manual  for  the  Cultivation,  Pruning  and  Man- 

ageraeut  of  all  I'lanls  suitable  for  American  Hedging,  especially  the  Madura  or  Osage 
Orange.  Fully  illu.strated  with  engraving  of  plants,  implements  and  processes.  To 
which  is  added  a  Treatise  on  Evergreens,  \."i^.r  diUerent  Varieties,  their  propagation, 
transplanting  and  Culture  in  the  United  Statjs 

WARING'S  ELEMENTS  OF  AGRICTJLTTJKI2, 75 

A  Book  for  Young  Farmers,  with  Questions  for  the  use  of 

Schools. 

WEEKS  (JOHN  M.)  ON  BEES -A  MANUAL, 60 

Or,  an   Ea.sy  Method  of  Managing  Bees  in  the  most  profit- 

able  manner  to  their  Owner  ;  w;th  Infallible  Rules  to  Prevent  their  Destruction  by  the 
Moth.     With  an  Appendix,  by  Woo.ster  A.  Fi.andeks. 

WHITE'S  (W.  N.)  GARDENING  FOR  THE  SOUTH,    -      -      -      -      1  25 

Or,  the  Kitchen  and  Fruit  Garden,  with  the  Best  Methods 

for  their  Cultivation  ;  together  with  Hints  upon  l^audscape  and  Flower  Gardening  ;  con- 
taining Modes  of  Culture  and  Descriptions  of  the  Species  and  Varieties  of  the  Culinary 
Vegetables,  Fruit  Trees  and  Fruits,  and  a  Select  List  of  OrnamentalTrees  and  Plants, 
Adaoted  tothc  States  of  the  Union  South  of  Pennsylvania,  with  Gardening  Calendars  for 
the  same.     By  Wm.  N.  White,  of  Athens,  Georgia. 

YOUATT  AND  MARTIN  ON  CATTLE, 1  25 

Being  a  Treatise  on  their  Breeds,  Management,  and  Diseases, 

comprising  a  Full  History  of  the  Various  Races;  their  Origin,  Breeding  and  Merits; 
their  capacity  for  Baef  and"  Milk.  By  W.  YoCv\rr  and  W.  C.  L.  \Urti.\.  The  whole  form- 
ing a  Complete  Guide  for  the  Farmer,  the  Amateur  and  the  Veterinary  Surgeon,  with  10« 
illustrations.     E-lited  by  Ambrose  Stevexs. 

YOUATT  ON  THE  HORSE, -      -      -      1  25 

YOUATT  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  HoRSE,  ivith 
their  Remedies  ;  also,  Practical  Rules  for  Buyers,  Breeders,  Smiths,  &:c.  Edited  by  W. 
C.  Spooner,  M.R.C.V.S.  With  an  Account  of  the  Breeds  in  the  United  States,  by  Hexrt 
S.  Ra.vdall. 

YOUATT  ON  SHEEP, -      -      -         75 

Their  Breed,  Management  and  Diseases,  with  Illustrative  En- 
gravings ;  to  which  are  added  Remarks  on  the  Breeds  and  Management  of  Sheep  in  the 
United  States,  and  on  the  Culture  of  Fine  Wool  in  Silesia.    By  Wm.  Youatt. 

YOUATT  AND  MARTIN  ON  THE  HOG, 75 

A  Treatise  on  the  Breeds,  Management,  and  Medical  Treat- 

ment  of  Swine,  with  Directions  for  Salting  Pork  and  Curing  Bacon  and  Hams.  By  Wm. 
YoDATT,  V.  S.,and  W.  C  L.  JLvrti.v.  E-Uted  by  Ambrose  STSvii:.v.s.  Illustrated  with 
engravings  drawn  from  life. 

Mailed  post  paid  upon  receipt  of  price.  u, 


